For years, no one personified this term more than Roger Federer, who used a near-cheat-code-like comeback to assert dominance over his opponents. He’s been doing it for years, just ask Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. His rage was felt even by the younger generation. Nobody escaped.
In 2022, Suryakumar Yadav took over as Prime Minister. How is he defining GOD-mode in batting? Playing the type of cricket that only AB de Villiers was known for. Even better than ABD on occasion. Suryakumar took Lockie Ferguson on in the 19th over, walloping him for four boundaries and a six. Tim Southee was fielding at long-on at the time.
Suryakumar had already played a scoop, a ramp, and a cut in that over itself before defying physics once more to loft the ball over deep point. All three shots brought boundaries. Even Suryakumar, you’d think, has reached his limit. But apparently not, because that near-impossible shot stunned Southee, who turned back and shrugged his head in disbelief, while Ferguson was seen ruffling his hair.
Suryakumar’s current form makes it nearly impossible for selectors to ignore him for ODIs, let alone Tests. Suryakumar, at 32, has at most three more good years ahead of him, and with the 50-over World Cup looming, and amid all the change that may occur in Indian cricket in the coming years, Suryakumar can remain the one constant.
Surya is changing the definition of range with almost every innings in an ever-changing game, and if the world gets to see the first 720-degree player (360 is passu00e9), so be it. GOD-mode Suryakumar is what Indian cricket needs.
