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No.1 T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav has become the fourth batter (Test-playing nation) to score three T20I centuries. Suryakumar took just 45 balls to reach the three figures in the series decider against Sri Lanka at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot on January 7.
Suryakumar also became the seventh batter to hit a century against Sri Lanka in the format. Before Suryakumar, Rohit is the only Indian batter to score a T20I century against Sri Lanka. Rohit scored 118 against the Lankans at Indore in 2017.
The 32-year-old's first T20I century came in a losing cause against England in a high-scoring run chase. He scored 117 runs from 55 deliveries at Nottingham last year. Few months later, he scored an unbeaten 111 against New Zealand in a winning cause. This is Suryakumar's third T20I century in a space of six months.
This is the 32-year-old’s fastest T20I century out of the three. During the explosive knock of 112 from 51 deliveries, he hit seven fours and nine sixes. His strike rate was a stupendous 219.61. He helped India post 224/5, their second-highest total against Sri Lanka in T20Is.
Suryakumar came in to bat at no.4 in the sixth over after Rahul Tripathi's cameo. He got going quickly and made up for the dot balls faced by Shubman Gill in the powerplay overs. He got to his half-century in the 13th over from 26 deliveries.
The onslaught did not stop despite wickets falling at the other end. He got to his half-century with a single off the first ball of the penultimate over.
Suryakumar also became the third-fastest to 1,500 T20I runs as he reached the milestone from 43 innings. He surpassed Chris Gayle (44 innings) and Brendon McCullum (49 innings) on the list. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, KL Rahul, Aaron Finch and Virat Kohli lead the list as they breached the 1,500-run mark from 39 innings followed by Mohammad Rizwan who took 42 innings.
“I'm really happy with the way the innings went. Captain winning the toss and batting first showed faith in the batters, few shots are pre-determined, but these are the shots I've been playing over the last year and I'm not doing anything different. The 2022 form is gone, it's a fresh start in 2023 and I hope to continue doing well. It's a good pitch, nice bounce and a lush outfield,” the in-form batter told broadcasters after his stupendous knock.
