Suryakumar Yadav equals Virat Kohli’s world record, but in half the time

360 India’s Suryakumar Yadav proved once again why he is the world’s No. 1 T20 batsman, scoring a brilliant half-century as the team thwarted Afghanistan’s challenge in the Super 8 clash of the 2024 T20 World Cup on Thursday. Suryakumar came out to bat when players like Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant departed early. The batsman orchestrated a brilliant partnership with Hardik Pandya to take India to 181 runs in 20 overs. In the process, Surya also equaled Virat Kohli’s world record.

Courtesy of Surya’s 28-ball 53, India defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs in the match. As a result, the middle-order batsman was named Player of the Match, for the 15th time in the history of international T20 cricket. Incidentally, this is also the all-time record, held by Kohli. Although Surya is now tied with India’s all-time great, he has done so in almost half of the innings.

Most POTM awards in T20Is:

Suryakumar Yadav – 15 (61 innings)

Virat Kohli – 15 (113 innings)

Surya, the world’s No. 1 T20I batsman, played his traditional strokes, barely leaving an inch on the ground untouched.

“That’s what I’ve been practicing, I like batting between 7 and 15 because it’s the most difficult phase when the opposing bowlers try to control things. I like to take charge at that phase, I like that,” Surya told broadcasters during the shift interval.

After India lost Rohit, Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli added 43 for the second wicket to somewhat steady the sinking Indian ship before Rashid Khan’s twin strikes left India reeling at 62 for 3.

“I started chewing gum harder when he (Kohli) left. I just supported my game and my instincts.

“I played a lot of cricket under him (Rohit Sharma) and now, under him, he understands my game. He knows my game, so he sits back and enjoys it,” Surya said.

India entered the match with an impeccable record, having won three games in the group campaign, while one match against Canada was lost. Afghanistan, on the other hand, suffered a 104-run defeat to West Indies in their last group match and also faced defeat to Rohit Sharma’s side.