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India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has entered the ranks of cricketing elites following his captaincy debut, steering the national squad to triumph over Sri Lanka in their recent three-match T20I duel.
Yadav’s stellar leadership propelled the Men in Blue to a commanding 3-0 victory, culminating in a thrilling Super Over triumph in Pallekele on July 30th. His batting prowess throughout the series earned him the prestigious “Player of the Series” accolade, placing him just shy of the legendary Virat Kohli in terms of most such awards in the abbreviated format.
Throughout the series, the 33-year-old cricketer showcased his batting finesse, amassing a total of 58 runs from 26 deliveries, embellished with eight boundaries and two sixes. Even in the rain-curtailed affair, Yadav managed to contribute significantly with 26 runs off 12 balls. Despite a quieter outing in the final match, where he scored eight runs from nine deliveries, Yadav emerged as the leading run-scorer for the Indian contingent in the series.
Suryakumar Yadav joins elite list after third T20I match.
Suryakumar Yadav secured his fifth Player of the Series award in T20 international cricket, placing him closely behind Virat Kohli, who leads with six such accolades. Notably, Yadav shares this achievement with Babar Azam, Shakib Al Hasan, and David Warner, yet he accomplished it in fewer T20I appearances compared to his peers.
Most Player of the Series awards in T20Is
Virat Kohli (India) – 6 (in 125 matches)
Suryakumar Yadav (India) – 5 (in 71 matches)
Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 5 (in 123 matches)
David Warner (Australia) – 5 (in 110 matches)
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 5 (in 129 matches)
India Complete 3-0 Whitewash In Sri Lanka T20Is
India underwent significant changes to their playing XI for the decisive third T20I match of the series, with four new faces brought in. Despite their efforts, the team struggled to amass a competitive total, finishing their innings at 137 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Shubman Gill emerged as the top scorer for India, crafting 39 runs from 37 deliveries, while Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana proved formidable with the ball, claiming three wickets for 28 runs in his four-over spell.
In pursuit of 138 runs, Sri Lanka’s openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis provided a solid start, stitching together a 58-run partnership. Mendis then combined with Kusal Perera for another significant stand of 52 runs before Ravi Bishnoi broke through by dismissing Mendis. The match intensified as Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav each contributed with two crucial wickets apiece.
Rinku Singh’s pivotal double strike came at a critical juncture when Sri Lanka required nine runs off 12 balls. The tension escalated further when Suryakumar Yadav took charge of the final over, conceding just five runs, forcing the match into a Super Over. Washington Sundar then tightened the screws, allowing only two runs in the Super Over, setting the stage for Suryakumar Yadav to seal India’s victory with a decisive boundary.
