The India team have over the years struggled for a proper T20 batter who plays the game in all-new innovative ways focusing majorly on the strike rates and taking the attack to the opposition right from ball one. However, this dilemma of Indian cricket was solved by Suryakumar Yadav who can completely bat 360 degrees and can hit the ball all around the ground whenever he feels like. It is also a fact that the destructive India opener plays according to the field and can hit the long ball whenever he wants.
His innovative batting which includes playing shorts all around the ground has certainly earned him this reputation of playing in adverse situations to score runs at a brisk pace. It is courtesy of these batting supreme innings that Surya is currently the top-ranked T20I batter in the world. Overall, the right-hand batter has scored 1841 runs in 50 innings with a healthy average of 46.02 along with a breathtaking strike rate of 172.7 combined with three hundreds which is only second to Rohit Sharma who has scored four T20I centuries. Let us now look at the top three best innings of Suryakumar Yadav for the Indian team;
1. 117(55) vs England in 2022
It is very much evident that Suryakumar has among the most staggering T20I records when England as an opponent are considered. It was in the third T20I against the England team in 2022 at Nottingham when Suryakumar hit his career-best knock of 117 runs off just 55 deliveries along with 14 boundaries and six maximums.
Unfortunately, India could not win the match but Surya’s innings will certainly go down as one of the most prolific fighting knocks of all time in T20Is.
2. 112*(51) vs. Sri Lanka in 2023
It was in the 2023 Sri Lanka tour to India when the 33-year-old batter scored an outstanding performance by scoring an unbeaten 112 from just 51 balls during the third T20I against Sri Lanka at Rajkot’s SCA Stadium. This was also the first T20 century for Suryakumar Yadav in international cricket. The impressive innings included seven boundaries and an impressive nine sixes, which contributed to India setting a formidable target of 229 runs for Sri Lanka to pursue.
3. 111*(51) vs New Zealand in 2022
Suryakumar Yadav once again captivated cricket enthusiasts with a stunning display of skill, this time at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. The right-handed batsman blazed a century in just 49 balls during India’s second T20I against New Zealand, finishing with an unbeaten 111 from 51 deliveries. Initially, the Indian team faced difficulties in gaining momentum in the match, but once Suryakumar took charge, he steered India to a commanding position throughout the innings.
Thanks to his remarkable century, India managed to set a competitive total of 191 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs against New Zealand. Suryakumar’s exceptional innings featured 11 boundaries and 7 towering sixes before he concluded his performance.
Also check: Top 3 best innings of Suryakumar Yadav in IPL