Raipur: After 14 long months and 23 innings of silence, the bat of Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav finally roared back to life on Friday (January 23), lighting up the Raipur sky with a breathtaking knock against New Zealand in the second T20I.
Chasing the target, the much-awaited “Suraj” rose in his trademark fashion. Staying true to his “Mr 360” reputation, Suryakumar brought up his first T20I fifty in 14 months in just 23 balls, peppering the boundary with seven fours and two sixes. But the onslaught did not stop there. He continued his blistering assault and remained unbeaten on 82 off just 37 deliveries, striking nine fours and four sixes to guide India to a commanding seven-wicket victory.
This innings could not have come at a better time for the Indian skipper. Ever since taking over the T20I captaincy after the 2024 T20 World Cup, Suryakumar’s form had been under intense scrutiny. His last T20I fifty before Raipur had come in Hyderabad on October 12, 2024, against Bangladesh, where he scored a rapid 75 off 35 balls. Since then, a prolonged lean patch followed, with his average dipping to 13.62 and a highest score of just 47 not out during that phase.
The numbers painted a worrying picture. While Suryakumar enjoyed a solid 2024—scoring 429 runs in 17 innings with four fifties—2025 turned into a nightmare. He managed only 218 runs in 19 innings across 21 matches, without a single fifty, raising serious concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
His dip in form was also reflected in the ICC rankings. From being the world No. 1 T20I batter in 2023 with a career-best rating of 912, Suryakumar slipped steadily and recently fell out of the top 10. Despite the mounting pressure, the Indian captain repeatedly backed his unique approach, insisting that he would return in his own style—and in Raipur, he proved his words right.
Overall, Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I record continues to underline his class. In 101 matches and 95 innings, he has amassed 2,902 runs at an impressive average of 36.27 and a strike rate of 164.23, including four centuries and 22 fifties. He stands second only to Rohit Sharma among Indian batters in terms of T20I hundreds and is among the select few in world cricket with more than 150 sixes in the format.
Friday night in Raipur was not just about a fifty—it was about reassurance, redemption, and the return of India’s most explosive T20 batter at a crucial moment.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.