Suryakumar Yadav enters the elite list of T20Is

Displaying consistency and skill, India T20 Internationals captain Suryakumar Yadav has joined the elite list of cricketers with the most Player of the Series awards in T20Is. This achievement puts him just behind Virat Kohli, who leads the pack with six awards, showcasing Yadav’s remarkable rise in the shortest format of the game. With his fifth award, Yadav now stands shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Australian cricket giant David Warner. Yadav’s journey to this milestone has been spectacular. His aggressive batting style along with his ability to perform under pressure has made him a crucial asset for the Indian cricket team.

So far, he has played 71 T20Is, scoring 2,432 runs at an average of 42.67. His recent performances have not only solidified his position in the team but also earned him recognition as one of the most formidable T20I players in the world. Each of his Player of the Series awards came through game-winning performances, reflecting his consistency and importance to the team.

Joining the ranks of Shakib Al Hasan and David Warner, both pillars of their respective teams, highlights Yadav’s significant impact on international cricket. Shakib’s all-round capabilities and Warner’s explosive batting have set high standards, and Yadav’s inclusion in this list shows his caliber and potential to shape the future of T20 cricket.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir started with a 3-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka.

In the last T20I match of the series on Tuesday against Lanka, India decided to change the winning combination and made four changes to the playing XI. Despite staggering with the bat, India trusted in their high-risk, high-reward approach and it eventually paid off.

While chasing 138, Lank’s Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis stitched together a 58-run opening stand to set the tone for the game.

Ravi Bishnoi took the lead in the ninth over, raising hopes of an unprecedented comeback. Bishnoi returned to remove Mendis (43), trapping him in front of the stumps.

Washington Sundar removed Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka in consecutive deliveries to turn the tide in India’s favour.

With nine runs needed off 12 balls, Suryakumar Yadav banked on Rinku Singh and delivered when the situation demanded it most.

In a single over, Rinku sent batsman Kusal Perera (46) and then Ramesh Mendis (3) back to the dugout to reduce the equation to six runs in six balls.

Suryakumar took the ball in hand and took two wickets in a row, reducing the equation to three runs off the final ball. Chamindu Wickramasinghe scored twice off the final ball to take the game to Super Over.

Washington Sundar wove magic, gave two runs and removed Kusal Mendis and Nissanka to restrict Sri Lanka to two runs.

Surykuamar swept to find the fence to complete the whitewash over Sri Lanka in the T20Is.

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