Mumbai Indians skipper Kieron Pollard heaped praise on his team's middle order batsman Suryakumar Yadav for his game changing 43-ball 79 run whirlwind knock against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter played on Wednesday (Oct 28).

Suryakumar scored a whirlwind half ton to spearhead Mumbai Indians 165-run chase and help them put one foot in the playoff qualification in the IPL Season 13 at the UAE with 16 points in the bank.

Coming out to bat at the fall of in-form opener Quinton de Kock in the sixth over, Yadav took on the RCB bowlers from the very start of his innings and played a counter attacking knock to see the 4-time champion cross the finishing line.

Yadav's knock came a day after BCCI announced the Indian squad for the tour of Australia that will start from November. Yadav did not make the cut to any of the squads for the 'Men in Blue' in the upcoming all format bilateral series against the 'Aussies' in their backyard.

After MI's eight win of the season, skipper Pollard was all praises for Man of the Match Suryakumar saying that his form with the willow has improved with every game. Pollard also added that Suryakumar must be feeling quite shell shocked with the fact that he was not picked up for India's upcoming international engagement given the form he has exhibited in the IPL so far.

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"Imagine someone batting at that strike rate after two early wickets. Deep down inside he must be very very disappointed to not have donned the blue for India. He just keeps getting better. Again as an individual if you keep staying consistent, you will be rewarded. Nothing happens before its time," said Pollard in the post-match presentation ceremony in which Suryakumar won the Player of the Match award.

Pollard also spoke about how he engineered RCB's collapse from 131/3 to 139/6 between the 16th and 18th overs. The Windies cricketer felt that the dismissal of AB de Villiers, who looked set for a trademark swashbuckling innings was the turning point in the match . "I am big on match-ups in a way," said Pollard.

"I also watch a lot of cricket. I took a punt and bowled at AB. I could have waited for the last over but if someone has to go for runs I thought I'd take it."

de Villiers' wicket was followed by a double-wicket maiden from Jasprit Bumrah that put the breaks on the RCB innings. "Bumrah continues to keep standing up throughout the tournament. But again we have been playing total team cricket. Somebody is always there to pick up the slack," said Pollard.