Suryakumar Yadav is known for his exciting batting and unique shots. He has performed exceptionally well in T20I cricket, using his wide range of shots to change how batting is viewed in T20 matches. Since his debut, he has become an important player for India, consistently performing well in any situation. In less than two years, he reached and maintained the top spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings. As a part-time captain for India, he has led the team to many victories.
Here are five of his best T20I innings.
1. 117 (55) vs England- 2022
Suryakumar Yadav played really well in T20Is, which got him a spot on India’s team for their England tour in mid-2022. In the third game, India needed to score a huge 216 runs to win the series 3-0.
India had a tough start, losing three wickets for just 31 runs. Suryakumar hit 14 boundaries and six sixes, scoring 117 runs off 55 balls. He kept India’s hopes alive until the second-last over when Moeen Ali got him out.
Even though he played brilliantly, India lost by 17 runs because the other players didn’t contribute enough. His century is still remembered as one of his best T20I innings.
2. 111* (51) vs New Zealand- 2022
In a T20I during India’s tour of New Zealand in November 2022, Suryakumar Yadav had an amazing game. He scored 111 not out from 51 balls at Mount Maunganui, hitting seven sixes and 11 fours. His innings helped India reach a total of 191-6 in 20 overs. Yadav focused on Lockie Ferguson, scoring 22 runs from his last six balls. His performance was key to India’s 65-run victory, giving them an early lead in the three-match series.
3. 68 (40) vs South Africa- 2022 T20 World Cup
When Team India lost half their players for just 49 runs in Perth during the 2022 T20 World Cup against South Africa, Suryakumar Yadav proved he can handle pressure. He helped the team reach 133 runs by the end of their 20 overs.
Yadav hit six boundaries and three sixes, scoring 68 runs off 40 balls, which was more than half of the team’s total. No other Indian batter scored more than captain Rohit Sharma’s 15 runs. Yadav’s clever batting stood out against the strong South African bowlers.
Even with Yadav’s efforts, India lost because David Miller played exceptionally well in the run chase.
4. 100 (56) vs South Africa- 2023
In December 2023, Suryakumar Yadav went to South Africa as the captain of the Indian T20I team. In the crucial third match in Johannesburg, he hit a lot of sixes after India struggled early on. He made 8 sixes and 7 fours, helping India score 201 runs. Yadav scored a century in just 55 balls, which was his fourth T20I hundred and tied records with Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell. His great performance led India to a 106-run win, leveling the series.
5. 112* (51) vs Sri Lanka- 2023
Suryakumar Yadav rang in the New Year in January 2023 with an outstanding century against Sri Lanka in Rajkot. Thanks to a strong start from Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi, Yadav took charge after the early overs.
He dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers with seven elegant boundaries and nine powerful sixes. Yadav scored an unbeaten 112 off just 51 balls, lifting India to a total of 228-5 in 20 overs.
This score was 91 runs more than Sri Lanka’s highest total, securing a 2-1 series win for India. Yadav was named ‘Player of the Match.
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