After the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, Suryakumar Yadav will lead India in T20Is on Sri Lanka tour. As Rohit Sharma’s successor in the format, it will be a big opportunity for Suryakumar to prove his mettle as he has been made captain keeping T20 World Cup 2026 in mind. The unorthodox batter will also have a chance to break Rohit’s T20I record against Sri Lanka.
Suryakumar needs 158 more runs to surpass Rohit and become India’s highest run-scorer against Sri Lanka in T20Is. Currently, he has 254 runs from five innings at an average of 63.50 including one century and two fifties. Recently-retired form T20I format, Rohit has 411 runs from 17 innings at an average of 24.17 including one century and one fifty.
Overall, Rohit is the fourth-highest run-scorer in T20Is against Sri Lanka. The top spot belongs to former Australia opener David Warner with 653 runs from 17 innings at an average of 54.51 including one century and six half-centuries. Warner is followed by his former teammates Glenn Maxwell (482 runs) and Aaron Finch (482 runs).
Shanaka on top
On the other hand, Dasun Shanaka is the leading run-scorer in T20I encounters between India and Sri Lanka over the years. The all-rounder has scored 430 runs from 20 innings at an average of 30.71 including two half-centuries.
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India’s leading run-scorer among current batters
Currently ranked no.2 in ICC's T20I batter rankings, Suryakumar is India's highest run-scorer among current batters. The top two run-scorers of the format -- Rohit (4,231 runs) and Virat Kohli (4,188 runs) -- have retired from the format following the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in Barbados. Suryakumar has scored 2,340 runs from 65 innings at an average of 43.33 including four centuries and 19 fifties. The 33-year-old's strike rate of 167.74 stands out.
Sri Lanka in dire straits
India are the no.1 ranked side in T20Is. Meanwhile, the Charith Asalanka-led Sri Lanka are ranked eighth, just above Bangladesh as they have five more points. Sri Lanka may slip further in rankings if they lost the home series which will be played from July 27 to 30.
Earlier, they were knocked out of T20 World Cup 2024 from the group stage. Following the exit, Wanindu Hasaranga stepped down as captain.
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