Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India's T20 International team, has recently joined the prestigious list of cricketers with the most Player of the Series awards in T20Is. This accomplishment places him just behind Virat Kohli, who tops the list with six awards. Yadav, with five awards, now shares this honour with Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan and Australia's David Warner, both of whom are renowned for their contributions to the game.
Yadav's journey to this elite group has been marked by his aggressive batting and ability to perform under pressure, making him an invaluable player for India. Over 71 T20Is, he has amassed 2,432 runs at an average of 42.67. His recent performances have not only secured his spot in the team but also established him as one of the top T20I players in the world. Each of his Player of the Series awards highlights his consistent and crucial match-winning contributions.
Being compared to players like Shakib Al Hasan and David Warner, who are key figures in their respective teams, underscores Yadav's significant impact on international cricket. Shakib's all-around skills and Warner's explosive batting have set high benchmarks, and Yadav's inclusion in this group reflects his ability to shape the future of T20 cricket.
In a recent series against Sri Lanka, Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir led India to a 3-0 T20I series win. In the final match, India made four changes to their playing XI, opting for a high-risk, high-reward strategy. While chasing 138, Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis set up a strong opening partnership of 58 runs. However, Ravi Bishnoi's crucial wicket of Mendis and Washington Sundar's two wickets in consecutive deliveries shifted the momentum in India's favor.
With nine runs needed from 12 balls, Yadav turned to Rinku Singh, who dismissed Kusal Perera and Ramesh Mendis, reducing Sri Lanka's target to six runs from six balls. Yadav then took the ball himself, taking two wickets and bringing the game down to the final delivery, which ended in a Super Over.
In the Super Over, Washington Sundar allowed only two runs while taking two wickets, setting a low target for India. Suryakumar Yadav sealed the victory with a boundary, completing India's series whitewash over Sri Lanka.