(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Suryakumar Yadav, India’s dynamic T20I captain and batting sensation, celebrated his 35th birthday on Sunday. Fans across the cricket world are buzzing about this modern T20 wizard, often compared to South Africa’s AB de Villiers for his explosive strokeplay and cool-headed leadership. From late bloomer to global star, Suryakumar’s journey proves that persistence pays off big time.
### From Humble Beginnings to International Glory
Suryakumar made his India debut at 30 against England, smashing a stunning six off Jofra Archer’s very first ball. Talk about making an entrance! Before that, he faced setbacks, getting released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after playing as a lower-order batter from 2014 to 2017. But his breakthrough came with Mumbai Indians (MI), where consistent performances earned him that coveted Indian cap. Hard work turned his dreams into reality, and today, he’s one of the top T20I run-scorers for India.
In T20Is, Suryakumar shines brightest. He’s racked up 2,605 runs in 80 innings with an average of 38.30 and a blistering strike rate of 167.30. That’s four centuries, 21 fifties, and a best of 117. He’s India’s third-highest T20I run-getter ever. No wonder he scooped back-to-back ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year awards in 2022 and 2023.
In 2022, he smashed a record 1,164 runs in 31 matches for India—the most by an Indian in a calendar year—with two tons and nine fifties. That strike rate of 187.43? Pure fireworks. Alongside Virat Kohli, he’s the joint-fastest to 2,000 T20I runs, reaching it in just 56 innings.
Suryakumar’s T20 World Cup record adds to his legend. He helped India clinch the 2024 title, pulling off that unforgettable catch to dismiss David Miller and seal victory against South Africa. In the tournament, he scored 199 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 135.37, including two fifties. Overall in T20 World Cups, he’s notched 480 runs in 17 innings with a strike rate of 158.94 and five half-centuries. His debut in 2022 was electric—239 runs in six innings, third-highest in the tournament.
With 16 Player of the Match awards in T20Is, he ties Virat Kohli for third place all-time. Since becoming India T20I captain last year, he’s led the team to 13 wins in 16 matches, with just two losses and a tie. Leadership suits him like a glove.
### IPL Star Power with Mumbai Indians
Suryakumar’s IPL journey is equally thrilling. He’s the 16th-highest run-scorer in IPL history with 4,311 runs in 166 matches at a strike rate over 148, including two centuries and 29 fifties. His standout season? 2022 with MI, where he blasted 717 runs in 16 innings— the best ever by an MI batter. That helped them reach the playoffs, and he set a T20 world record with 16 straight scores of 25-plus.
For MI, he’s scored 3,703 runs at a strike rate above 151, with two tons and 28 fifties. He’s their second-top run-getter behind Rohit Sharma and played key roles in their 2019 and 2020 IPL wins. Earlier with KKR, he made 608 runs in 54 matches and won the 2014 title, though his average there was a modest 22.52.
### Beyond T20: Tests, ODIs, and More
Suryakumar has dabbled in other formats too. In Tests, he played one match, scoring 8 runs. In ODIs, he’s got 773 runs in 37 games at a strike rate of 105.02, with four fifties and a best of 72*. He was part of India’s 2023 Asia Cup triumph and the runners-up squad in the 2023 ODI World Cup at home.
Across 326 T20 matches overall, Suryakumar has 8,627 runs at an average of 35.50 and a strike rate over 153, featuring six centuries and 59 fifties. From domestic grounds to global stages, this 360-degree player keeps redefining T20 cricket. Happy birthday, SKY—here’s to more boundaries!
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