Suryakumar Yadav Falls Below Virat Kohli, Babar Azam In New T20I Record

Suryakumar Yadav in full flow against WI in fifth T20I (AP)

Suryakumar Yadav rounded up 61 runs from his end out of India’s 165-run total upfront against West Indies in the series-deciding fifth T20I. The cricketer’s efforts, however, were tendered fruitless later in the run-chase as hosts’ opener Brandon King smacked 85* to take his side to victory with two overs and eight wickets to spare.

Yadav’s knock marked his second fifty of the series, and the 15th of his glittering T20I career. Even in defeat, the elegant right-hander managed to scale some memorable T20I batting records through his enterprising innings in Lauderhill.

Suryakumar Yadav inches closer to Kohli, Babar Azam

Suryakumar Yadav took guard at the crease for the 50th time in his T20I career during the fifth match of the series against West Indies. The 32-year-old celebrated the occasion by unfurling 61 runs from just 45 balls, laced with four boundaries and three sixes.

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The innings marked his 15th T20I half-century, and his 18th fifty-plus score in the format, thus bringing him on par with batting greats Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in terms of registering most half-centuries after the first 50 T20I innings.

Yadav also extended his T20I tally to 1,841 runs, to become India’s second highest run-getter after Virat Kohli in the first 50 innings. Overall, he falls below Kohli and prolific Pakistani openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, and just above Indian teammate KL Rahul (1,751 runs). 

Suryakumar Yadav will next be seen in Indian colours during the upcoming ODI Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. The tournament will kick-off on August 30, while India’s opening fixture will be played out in Kandy against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2.

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