SKY is the limit. He has got all the skills. He can hook, he can pull, he can drive, he can send the ball to the boundary at will. The modern day 360* man is a work of art when it comes to hitting in the shortest form of the game. Suryakumar has the joint highest T20 centuries in history despite appearing in only 59 games. The mighty punisher from Mumbai has taken his blistering form to the international stage, mesmerising fans throughout the world. Despite humble beginnings, the right hander has now the world at his feet with sheer determination and unwavering concentration.
Suryakumar Yadav Childhood
Surya Kumar Yadav was born on 14th September 1990. His birthplace is a village in Uttar Pradesh called Ghazipur. Yadav’s father is an engineer who worked for an atomic research centre in Mumbai. Suryakumar has three siblings. The first ten years of his life was spent in Mumbai. Then his father got a job offer in Mumbai. The Yadav family then moved to Mumbai. This was the moment when Suryakumar’s life changed forever. From a village surroundings, Suryakumar was exposed to the rich cricket culture of Mumbai. Surya went to Atomic Energy Central School in Mumbai for his initial education. Then he got admitted into the Atomic Energy Junior College. Surya then completed his higher education from Pillai College of Arts, Commerce and Science.
Made in Mumbai
Just like many other Mumbai kids in childhood, Suryakumar Yadav was got his earliest form of training in cricket by playing gully cricket in the streets of Varanasi. The Indian batsman was equally interested in cricket and badminton. But he was advised by his father to choose one out to these two sports. As you can predict, cricket was the answer to this question.His uncle Vinod Kumar Yadav was the first cricket coach of his life. However, at the age of 10, Yadav had to leave UP for Mumbai.
After earning his name among the local circle, Suryakumar got admitted to the Elf Vengsarkar Academy when he was 12. He started his training under the tutelage of legendary Indian player Dilip Vengsarkar. Apart from the time in the academy, the young batter used to spend hours practicing on the cricket ground of his father’s living quarters.
Suryakumar Yadav started his journey in age-group cricket soon after. After 8 long years of playing cricket for different clubs, Suryakumar Yadav finally got the reward for his persistence. He earned the first call-up from the Mumbai Ranji Team in 2010.
Suryakumar Yadav had his debut for the Ranji team in the same year. His debut in 1st class cricket was a memorable one, scoring 73 runs from 89 balls in the first innings of his first class career.
2011-12 Raji Season was the breakthrough season for his flamboyant batter. He was the highest scorer for his state team, accumulating 754 runs from just 9 matches at an impressive average of 80.11. He won the award for the best cricketer for Mumbai. The year 2012 was a significant year for the then 23 year old right hander. This was the season when Suryakumar Yadav got selected for the Mumbai Indians in IPL. He was enjoying stellar seasons in the domestic arena and even went on the captain his state team. He lost his captaincy in 2015 and was axed from the team altogether in the 2018-19 season.
Here’s a glimpse into the power-hitting ability this man possesses:
Suryakumar Yadav’s 82 Runs Against Sunrisers Hyderabad | 55th Match | Indian Premier League 2021
Suryakumar Yadav in IPL
Suryakumar Yadav was first introduced to IPL in the 2012 season. But he was selected on the basis of Ranji’s performance, but young batter hardly got a chance to play among the star-studded Mumbai lineup. He was released after that IPL. He was unsold in the next auction, but eventually Kolkata Knight Riders came to his rescue in 2014. In 2015, he put on a stellar show against Mumbai Indians, scoring a match winning of 46 from 20 balls. He was consistently performing big for the KKR side. He went on to become the vice-captain of the Kolkata side. It took four seasons for Mumbai to realise their mistakes, and the local boy returned to his state side for INR 3.2 crore. In 2022 Mumbai Indians retained their best performer for an astronomic amount of !NR 8 crore. However, he could not appear for the blue team due to an injury problem. The bombastic middle-order batsman is still with the Mumbai Indians as the team retained him for INR 8 crore once again in the 2023 IPL Auction. He is one of the most effective batsman in the history of the most decorated T20 franchise league of all time. Across the 139 games in this tournament, Yadav has maintained a healthy average of 32.17 and strike the ball at a strike rate of 143.32. He has one century and 21 half centuries in this format.
Suryakumar Yadav Playing Style
Suryakumar comes from a rich lineage of batsmen who like to play the game with conventional technique. However, Yadav himself is an anomaly due to his inclination towards improvisation. The records do not bother him, he always focuses on scoring runs at a quick rate. During his formative years, Suryakumar was advised to play straight like the other kids. Surya wanted to follow a road less taken, he loved to play cricket following his heart. Once he stepped on the middle though, the words would fall into deaf ears. He wasn’t considered a child prodigy, rather a late bloomer who has found his peak after the age of 30.
Suryakumar Yadav is one of those batters from modern breed who priortizes innovation over everything. As a T20 specialist, he improvises his shots to bypass the field and send the ball towards the boundary rope. Suryakumar’s is known for his idiosyncratic “upper-cut” to punish anything short offered to him. He is a player capable of scoring runs at all corners of the ground, that’s why he inherited the title of “Mr. 360” from the South African legend AB de Villiers.
Despite starting at a later age than most of the Indian cricketers, Suryakumar has earned the plaudits of cricket enthusiasts from all over the world. Suryakumar has incredibly strong wrists which enable him to unleash an incredible degree of shot power.
His statistics while striking the ball behind square on the leg side are astounding: he has struck 340 runs off 111 balls with just six dismissals, an average of 56.66, and a strike rate of 306.30, which is almost unfathomable. Three runs per ball, therefore. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that, out of all of his shots, the scoop to fine leg is perhaps the one that comes to mind first. similar to how you handled AB de Villiers.
Suryakumar Yadav International career
In the realms of Indian cricket, few stories have captivated the imagination quite like that of Suryakumar Yadav. From a promising talent to an indispensable game-changer, Yadav’s journey has been nothing short of sensational. With a flair for explosive strokes and an unwavering determination, he has become a vital cog in India’s cricketing machinery.
Yadav’s initiation into the international arena arrived in February 2021 when he received his maiden call-up to India’s Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the series against England. The anticipation was palpable as the young batsman eagerly donned the Indian colors, ready to make his mark. On March 14, 2021, Yadav made his T20I debut, becoming the first Indian to slam a six off his very first ball in international cricket. This audacious stroke set the tone for an extraordinary innings, propelling him to a scintillating half-century. The cricketing fraternity quickly recognized his potential, and his captain bestowed upon him the title of an “X Factor” player.
Yadav’s undeniable talent was further showcased in June 2021 when he was selected for India’s One Day International (ODI) and T20I squads for the series against Sri Lanka. On July 18, 2021, he stepped onto the ODI stage, and just three days later, he notched up his maiden ODI half-century against Sri Lanka. These performances solidified his stature as a rising star, attracting attention both domestically and internationally.
The young maestro’s skills were in high demand, and in July 2021, he received a call-up to the Test squad for India’s series against England. September 2021 saw his inclusion in India’s squad for the 2021 ICC T20 Men’s World Championship, a testament to his remarkable progress. The versatile batsman’s journey continued to gain momentum when he was named in India’s Test squad for the series against New Zealand in November of the same year.
The year 2022 marked another milestone for Yadav as he was included in the Indian squad for the T20I series against Ireland in June. However, it was in July that he etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history. Against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Yadav showed his class by registering his first T20I century, a scintillating knock of 117 off just 55 deliveries. By achieving this feat, he became only the fifth Indian to reach the Three Figure Club in T20Is. Notably, he also became the fastest batsman to amass 1000 runs in T20Is in an astonishing 573 balls against South Africa in October 2022.
The accolades continued to pour in as Yadav climbed to the top of the ICC T20I rankings for batsmen on October 30, 2022. His explosive batting and penchant for quickfire fifties were on display during the T20 World Cup, where he registered the fourth-fastest half-century by an Indian batsman in the tournament’s history against the Netherlands in Sydney.
November 2022 witnessed Yadav’s unparalleled consistency as he produced yet another scintillating century, this time against New Zealand at the Bay Oval. His unbeaten knock of 111 from 51 balls, studded with 11 fours and 7 sixes, elevated him to the elite club of Indians with two T20I centuries in a calendar year, matching Rohit Sharma’s record.
The T20 Master
In January 2023, Yadav further fortified his reputation as he smashed his second-fastest century in T20Is. Accomplishing this feat in just 45 balls against Sri Lanka, he surpassed the record set by KL Rahul and earned a place in cricketing folklore. His remarkable performances throughout 2022 led to him being rightfully awarded the ICC T20I Player of the Year, solidifying his status as one of the game’s brightest stars.
Yadav’s versatility was exhibited yet again when he made his Test debut against Australia in February 2023. While the start may not have gone as planned, Yadav’s resilience and composure ensure that he will continue to challenge himself and grow in this demanding format.
While the journey has been littered with remarkable achievements, Yadav’s career has had its fair share of challenges as well. Notably, during a series against Australia in March 2023, he became the only Indian batsman to encounter three Golden Ducks in a three-match ODI series. However, these setbacks only serve as motivation for Yadav to come back stronger and prove his mettle.
August 2023 saw Yadav’s return to international cricket against West Indies in ODIs, with the added honor of being named the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team in T20Is. In the crucial third T20I, he exhibited his leadership qualities and delivered a breathtaking knock of 83 runs off just 44 balls, guiding India to a vital victory.
Suryakumar Yadav’s remarkable rise from prodigious talent to an indispensable match-winner has been a delight to witness. With an ever-growing list of records and achievements, his impact on Indian cricket is undeniable. As the days unfold, fans eagerly await the stellar performances that Yadav is bound to deliver on the field, as he continues to leave an indelible mark on the sport.
Suryakumar Yadav Records
Out of the 59 matches, Suryakumar Yadav has won the player of the match award on 14 occasions. He has also got 4 man of the series awards. This is the second highest in the history of T20Is. He is the third fastest to reach 2000 runs (56 innings). He shares the record for the highest number of centuries with Glenn Maxwell and compatriot Rohit Sharma, both of whom have surpassed 100 matches in the format. The mercurial right hander has hit the fifth highest number of sixes (123) in the format. He averages 43.04 at home, striking the ball at 168.34. His away records are even better. The average of 48.80 and 177.66 strike rate is proof that Suryakumar can unleash his batting wrath upon any opponents regardless of the surface he bats on.
Suryakumar Yadav Career Stats
Suryakumar Yadav has represented India in all three formats. The right hander would look to assert his authority in the longer versions of the game after starting off in disappointing fashion in those two formats. Yadav’s T20 record is predictably phenomenal, with an international average of 45.55 and a strike rate of 171.5. He also has the 2nd joint highest number of centuries in this format.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest | Average | Balls Faced | SR | 100 | 50 |
| Test | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8.00 | 20 | 40.00 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 37 | 35 | 773 | 72* | 25.76 | 736 | 105.02 | 0 | 4 |
| T20I | 60 | 57 | 2141 | 117 | 45.55 | 1248 | 171.55 | 4 | 4 |
| FC | 82 | 137 | 5628 | 200 | 43.62 | 8829 | 63.74 | 14 | 29 |
| List A | 139 | 126 | 3627 | 134* | 33.58 | 3475 | 104.37 | 3 | 21 |
| T20 | 270 | 247 | 6969 | 117 | 35.55 | 4582 | 152.09 | 5 | 46 |
Suryakumar Yadav has a phenomenal T20 record after just 60 games. He has reached the number one rank on multiple occasions throughout his career. It is safe to say, the 33 year old batter hasn’t been able to replicate the same form in the ODI format. The last World campaign was a tournament to forget for the right hander. He was heavily criticised for batting performance in the final match between India and Australia. Yadav struggled to find his rhythm and ended up scoring 18 runs from 28 deliveries. He only managed to hit one boundary during his stay at the crease. Yadav finally succumbed to a slower-bouncer from Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood.
Suryakumar Yadav Now
Suryakumar Yadav is currently out of contention with a hernia issue sustained after leading his country to an impressive victory against Australia just after the World Cup. He now faces a race against time to get himself fit and ready for the upcoming 2024 IPL season. The Mumbai Indian batter is an integral part of the team in both domestic and international level for his incredible consistency mixed with power hitting ability. If India are to achieve greatness at the 2024 T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav will have played a key role. If this champion batter is on song in the Americas, then the coveted trophy might return to the Indian soil after 17 long years. Suryakumar Yadav is not taking part in the ongoing T20 series against Afghanistan.
Conclusion
The life of Suryakumar Yadav has been a constant struggle of fighting against the odds. This T20 master has finally cemented his place in the Indian lineup after going through so many frustrating periods throughout his career. This exciting cricketer has captured hurt of million fans with his unique technique and ingenious stroke making. The hitting monster from Mumbai might be sidelined for now, but he would surely be back for the IPL 2024. If India wants to achieve something extraordinary in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav will have to rise to the occasion with his outstanding stroke play.
