India's T20 speciallist Suryakumar Yadav has been named International Cricket Council (ICC) T20I cricketer of the year 2022. Suryakumar had phenomenal performances in 2022 and became the second batter in history of T20I cricket to score 1,000 or more runs in a calendar year.
Suryakumar's astonishing numbers
The 32-year-old scored 1,164 runs from 31 innings at an average of 46.56 including two centuries and nine half-centuries. He struck as many as 68 sixes in the year, most by any batter in a calendar year. He also became the second batter to hit 100 or more fours in a year after Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan (119).
Suryakumar was also the third-highest run-scorer in T20Is. He scored 239 runs from six innings at an average of 59.75 including three half-centuries. The Mumbai-born batter occupied the top spot in ICC men's T20I rankings as well with 890 rating points. His strike rate of 187.43 in the year astonished many.
Suryakumar's first T20I century came against England in a losing cause in high-scoring affair. He also hit a century against New Zealand. He also rescued India on a spicy Perth pitch with a gutsy half-century against South Africa in T20 World Cup.
Rich vein in form continues
Suryakumar has continued his form in 2023 as well. He scored another T20I century against Sri Lanka. His three T20I centuries came in a space of six months. He also became the first non-opener to score three centuries in the format in international arena.
