Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed India's T20I captain for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. This decision comes after Rohit Sharma's retirement from the T20I format following India's triumphant campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Suryakumar, who has previously led India in T20Is, was chosen over Hardik Pandya, who served as the vice-captain during the T20 World Cup.

A late-bloomer, Suryakumar Yadav has taken the world of T20 cricket by storm. Even as he continues to remain an enigma in ODIs, SKY has reached the sky and gone beyond with his batting exploits in T20 cricket. He was crowned the No. 1 T20I batter in 2022. The leading T20I scorer in 2022 with 1164 runs including two centuries – the stunning 117 against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham and an equally brutal 111 not out against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui. And if that wasn't enough, Suryakumar kickstarted 2023 with a third century and ended it with a fourth.

Suryakumar's batting credentials hit a low when his approach was questioned as India endured a heart-wrenching loss to Australia in the final of the World Cup, but SKY eventually regrouped shortly after. Appointed captain for the home T20I series against the Aussies, not only did Surya lead a young Indian team to a 4-1 win but also led from the front with a sublime century before scoring a fifth against South Africa a month later.

The culmination of Suryakumar's achievements in the T20I arena came when India lifted the T20 World Cup on June 29, 2024 in Barbados. His brilliant catch in the final against South Africa of David Miller on the boundary ropes, sealed the game for India. If not for that crucial catch the match could have swung in South Africa's favour. The brilliance of the catch was such that it will be remembered for ages whenever there is a mention of India's triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Suryakumar's explosive power hitting in the Indian Premier League for the Mumbai Indians propelled him to prominence. However, what many may not realize is his significant reputation in Indian domestic cricket circles, particularly while representing Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. He debuted in the 2010-11 Ranji season and has since become a cornerstone of the Mumbai team, consistently delivering noteworthy performances season after season. His impressive displays caught the attention of the Mumbai franchise in the Indian T20 League, leading to his acquisition in 2011.

Although he initially had a brief stint with MI, Yadav later moved to Kolkata Knight Riders after 2013, where he proved to be a valuable middle-order batsman. His ability to deliver crisp strokeplay during the death overs made him a formidable opponent for bowlers. Yadav's batting style is characterized by a unique blend of power and precision, making him a dynamic force in any format, be it T20s or first-class cricket.

During KKR's second league triumph in 2014, Yadav featured in all games, amassing a total of 164 runs despite primarily batting in the lower-middle order. However, limited opportunities thereafter led to his eventual departure from Kolkata. Surya's return to MI was marked in the 2018 season, as the franchise secured his services in the auctions. This time around, he showcased even greater aggression and received more opportunities, especially after being promoted to the top of the batting order.

SKY truly shone in the 2018 season, emerging as MI's top run-scorer with 512 runs from 14 games. His impressive form continued into the following season, where he amassed 424 runs from 16 games, trailing only de Kock in terms of MI's highest scorers. Maintaining his momentum in the 13th edition, Yadav remained an integral part of the MI squad. His perseverance finally paid off when he earned his debut for India during the 2021 England series. Yadav's impactful pull shot against Jofra Archer signalled his arrival on the international stage, and he only continues to go from strength to strength.