Suryakumar Yadav breaks record with match-winning knock vs West Indies

Amid criticism of his ODI form, Suryakumar Yadav showcased his mettle in T20 cricket, delivering a match-winning performance for the Indian cricket team in the third T20I against West Indies. Yadav’s sensational knock of 83 runs off 44 balls proved instrumental in India’s victory, effectively keeping the chances of the ‘Men in Blue’ alive in the ongoing five-match series.

As the Indian side chased a target of 160 runs, Suryakumar’s masterful batting display, featuring 10 boundaries and four sixes, propelled the team to triumph with a strike rate exceeding 188.

This victory proved doubly significant as Suryakumar Yadav became the fastest Indian to cross 100 T20I sixes. Yadav achieved this feat in just 49 innings, outpacing previous records set by his compatriots.

Evin Lewis of West Indies retains the distinction of being the fastest player overall to reach the 100 T20I sixes mark, achieving the feat in 48 matches.

Suryakumar Yadav becomes India’s fourth-highest T20I run-scorer

Furthermore, Suryakumar Yadav’s performance propelled him ahead of Shikhar Dhawan to secure the position of India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in T20I cricket. Across 51 T20Is and 49 innings, Yadav has scored an impressive total of 1,780 runs at an average of 45.64. His batting record boasts three centuries, 14 half-centuries, and a personal best score of 117, achieved at a remarkable strike rate exceeding 174.

The only players on top of him are KL Rahul (2,265 runs in 72 matches at an average of 37.75, with two centuries and 22 fifties), team captain Rohit Sharma (3,853 runs in 148 matches at an average of 31.32 and a strike rate of 139.24, with four centuries and 29 fifties), and Virat Kohli (4,008 runs at an average of 52.73 in 115 matches, with one century and 37 fifties).

Among the list of Indian players with the most T20I sixes, Yadav is third on the list, with 101 sixes in 49 innings. The two players with more are Rohit Sharma with 182 sixes in 140 innings, and Virat Kohli boasting 117 sixes across 107 innings.

The victory secured him the ‘Player of the Match’ award, marking his twelfth such accolade in 51 T20Is – joint second-most for India, along with Rohit Sharma, only behind Virat Kohli’s record of 15.

Following this latest victory, India now trails 2-1 in the series against West Indies, with two more matches yet to be played.