The 1983 World Cup champion Kapil Dev was astounded by Suryakumar Yadav’s outstanding performance against Sri Lanka in Rajkot and compared his batting prowess to that of legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards, Virat Kohli, and Ricky Ponting. The third and final Twenty20 International of the series was played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, where India’s No. 4 scored 112 runs off just 51 balls against Sri Lanka. Before the bowlers dismissed the visitors for just 137 runs, he assisted Team India in amassing a massive 228 runs for the cost of five wickets.

“Sometimes I am at a loss of words on how to describe his knock. When we see Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, we feel that someday there will be a player who will compel us to think he is also part of that list,” he told ABP news.

“There is indeed a lot of talent in India. And the kind of cricket he plays, that lap shot the one over fine leg, then that leaves the bowler frightened because he can stand and hit a six over mid-on and mid-wicket. That is what makes it difficult for the bowlers because he is able to pick the line and length consistently. I have seen great batters like De Villiers, Vivian Richards, Sachin, Virat, Ricky Ponting, but very few can hit the ball as cleanly as him. Hats off to Suryakumar Yadav. These kinds of players come only once in a century,” he said.