India captain Suryakumar Yadav led from the front in the must-win 3rd T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg on Thursday, December 12, bringing up his 4th hundred in T20 international cricket. Suryakumar played a special knock under pressure as the stand-in skipper showcased why he is the No. 1-ranked batter in the International Cricket Council’s T20I charts. | SA vs IND, 3rd T20I Scorecard |
Suryakumar Yadav completed his 4th T20I hundred in just 55 balls as he was in 6th gear from the word go at the New Wanderers Stadium. Suryakumar hit 8 sixes and 7 boundaries when he went past the 3-figure score in the 19th over of the Indian innings.
Suryakumar did not get bogged down by the burden of captaincy as he hit a 56 in the 2nd T20I in quick time before going for the big one in the series decider. From hitting a six over fine-leg to get going to making sure he stayed there till the end, Suryakumar showed no signs of being under pressure.
Suryakumar Yadav equalled the world record for most T20I hundreds which was jointly held by Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell. The Mumbai Indians batting star hit 2 hundreds last year and 2 more this year to catch up with two of the modern-day white-ball greats. Notably, Maxwell had equalled Rohit’s record only last month during a T20I series against India in a sensational match-winning knock in Guwahati.
Rohit got all his 4 T20I hundreds in a span of 4 years between 2015 to 2018. Maxwell’s 4 hundreds stretch over a span of 8 years while Suryakumar has taken only two years in T20 international cricket to get to 4.
MOST T20I HUNDREDS
- Glenn Maxwell 4 (2016 to 2023)
- Rohit Sharma 4 (2015 to 2018)
- Suryakumar Yadav 4 (2022 to 2023)
- Babar Azam – 3 (2021 to 2023)
- Aaron Finch – 2 (2013 to 2018)
Suryakumar Yadav also became just the 5th batter to hit a T20I hundred in South Africa after Chris Gayle, Babar Azam, Martin Guptill, and Johnson Charles.
Suryakumar has been leading the T20I side in the last few weeks in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma and injured Hardik Pandya.
RECAPPING SURYA’S TONS
IN ENGLAND
Suryakumar Yadav hit his maiden T20I hundred on July 2022 when he unleashed a masterclass against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. His maiden century was a breathtaking display of 117 runs off just 55 balls, a knock that included 14 fours and 6 sixes. This remarkable innings not only showcased his ability to score big but also his capacity to do so under pressure, as he was one of the few to have scored a century while batting fourth or lower in the order.
IN NEW ZEALAND
His second T20I hundred came later that year in November against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui. Yadav’s unbeaten 111 off 51 deliveries was a testament to his consistency and his flair for the dramatic, as he peppered the ground with 11 fours and 7 sixes, ensuring a memorable victory for India.
AT HOME
The year 2023 witnessed Yadav’s third T20I ton, which was particularly special as it was recorded in the early days of January against Sri Lanka in Rajkot. Needing just 45 balls to reach his century, this innings became India’s second-fastest T20I hundred, second only to Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball century in 2017. Yadav’s scintillating performance included 7 fours and 9 sixes, culminating in an unbeaten 112 that propelled India to a commanding win.
