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Xtra Time Web Desk : Wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik praised Suryakumar Yadav after the batter's impressive return to white-ball cricket in the final match of India's recently concluded tour of South Africa on Sunday.

Suryakumar entered the field in the ODI series after missing the first two games and scored much needed 39 runs during India's 288 run chase in Cape Town. Suryakumar, who has played 11 T20Is and 4 ODIs for India, has been retained by Mumbai Indians for the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Suryakumar Yadav is batting on a different planet altogether; the kind of shots, the kind of positions, and the execution put together. He made batting look way easier than it was in that situation. Give him the long run, I'm sure he will do wonders for India. But, he needs a long run. Now, every time he comes out, he is under pressure from the players above and below him. It is very hard to set fields for him," Dinesh Karthik said.

"SKY will play at the same tempo in any position. For Mumbai Indians also, he plays in a similar way coming in at No.3. You will get a good amount of runs if you play him at No.4 or 5, but I will bat him at No.5 or 6 in ODI cricket because he turns around games in quick time on a consistent basis."

Karthik further added, "Jadeja is ready to bat at No.6. In fact, he is batting so well that he can play at No.5 as well. He is not the reckless kid anymore, he is using his head now and winning games with the bat, and in white-ball cricket, his stronger suit might be his batting. He will deliver for you consistently because he has got a good head on his shoulders and he knows how to take a game deep."

Suryakumar Yadav can turn around games in quick time on a consistent basis : Dinesh Karthik