Suryakumar Yadav rewarded by ICC as India captain extends dominance over T20I blistering knock vs SA

Team India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav once again proved why he is rated high in the shortest format of cricket. He played a sensational knock in the second T20I against South Africa on Tuesday. On the challenging wicket at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, he ended up scoring 56 runs in 36 balls and also extended his dominance in the ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings.

The 32-year-old batsman showcased his impressive batting skills, contributing significantly to India’s recovery after losing both openers early in the rain-affected match. With Rinku Sigh, Suryakumar played an important role in India’s comeback from 6-2, eventually posting a challenging total to SA. His quick-fire fifty not only entertained the fans but also earned him an extra 10 rating points in the ICC batter rankings. Currently, SKY has amassed an impressive 865 rating points, extending his lead at the top.

Suryakumar Yadav’s position in the rankings places ahead of his T20I contemporaries, with Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (787 rating points) and South Africa’s Aiden Markram (758) following in the ICC batter rankings. Having previously secured first place in the ICC rankings during the last edition of the ICC World T20 hosted by Australia, Surya is anticipated to retain his position during the 2024 T20 World Cup, further solidifying his reputation as a leading player in men’s T20 cricket.

Suryakumar Yadav equals Virat Kohli

In the latest India vs South Africa match, Suryakumar Yadav showed his batting prowess by scoring 56 off 36 balls, contributing significantly to India’s total of 180-7 in 19.3 overs. He achieved a milestone by surpassing the 2000 run mark in T20 Internationals, sharing the distinction with Virat Kohli.

Both Kohli and Suryakumar reached the 2000 run in the shortest format in just 56 innings, making them the joint-fastest players to reach this. This achievement underlines Suryauma’s consistency and impact in T20 cricket. Fans eagerly anticipate Suryakumar’s continued success and contributions to the Indian cricket team in future T20 matches.

“At the halfway stage, I thought it was a par score but they batted beautifully in the first 5-6 overs and took the game away from us. It was the brand of cricket we were talking about, just go out and express ourselves. It was tough with the wet ball, but we would face similar situations in the future and it’s a good learning for us. Looking forward to the Third T20I,” Suryakumar said after South Africa defeated India by 5 wickets.