'I am calling you only, look at your initials': Suryakumar Yadav reveals how he was named 'SKY' by Gautam Gambhir

Indian and Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav can be named as one of the most excellent finds of the Indian Premier League (IPL). To note, Suryakumar has been nicknamed ‘SKY’ and is often referred to by that name by his teammates and fans. The right-handed batter has now revealed how the batter got that name.

Playing for MI, Suryakumar made his IPL debut way back in 2012. However, the batter showed his true colors while playing for KKR in 2014. It is to be noted that former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir was one of the first few people to recognize his talent and showed faith in him. Perhaps it was fitting that the name ‘SKY’ was given to him by the Indian veteran Gambhir.

Gauti Bhai called me ‘SKY’ two-three times from Behind: Suryakumar recalls

Speaking on the YouTube show Breakfast with Champions, the right-handed batter revealed how the name ‘SKY’ was given to him by the former World Cup-winning player.

“When I went to KKR in 2014, Gauti Bhai called me ‘SKY’ two three times from behind. I didn’t pay attention. He then said, ‘I am calling you only. Look at your initials!’ That’s when I realized that yes it’s ‘SKY’, ” Suryakumar said on the show. The Mumbai-born player also shared a story about how Sachin Tendulkar made him sit beside him in the MI dressing room. He also added that the place has been a fixed spot for him since then.

“When I went to the MI dressing room for the first time, there was no room to sit. I was standing with my kit bag. Tendulkar used to sit beside a Ganesh idol. He asked me to sit beside him and since then I am sitting there only. If God has told you to sit beside him, then always do that,” he added.

Talking about his numbers in IPL, the right-handed batter has played 119 matches in which he has scored a total of 2541 runs at an average of 30.25. The 31-year-old has also stroked 15 half-centuries in the tournament, with the highest score of 82 runs.