Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of the Indian T20I team, has taken Virat Kohli’s world record for an average innings.
India’s new T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav started his journey as the team’s captain on a strong note, winning the first match of the series. Suryakuma’s India defeated Sri Lanka by 43 runs after posting 213/7 on the field with their captain at the helm. Surya scored 58 runs off 26 balls while in the middle and played a major role in setting the tempo of the match. Even as captain, Surya set a good example of strategic thinking and helped the team start the tour on a winning note. As a result, Surya was named the player of the tournament, an honor that allowed him to equal Virat Kohli’s world record.
Suryakumar has the best player marks in the history of T20 worlds. However, he played 69 matches, equaling Kohli’s record almost halfway through the season, while Virat played 125 matches.
Virat’s final Player of the Match came in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, post which he announced his retirement from the shortest format in international cricket.
Most POTM awards in T20Is:
Suryakumar Yadav (India) – 16 (in 69 matches)
Virat Kohli (India) – 16 (in 125 matches)
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) – 15 (in 91 matches)
Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) – 14 (in 129 matches)
Rohit Sharma (India) – 14 (in 159 matches)
Surya, who addressed the award ceremony after the match, also praised the Sri Lankan team’s hard work in the tournament.
“They were playing a good brand of cricket from ball one. They were keeping the tempo, credit goes to them. We know how the wicket plays in the night. We were fortunate that there was no dew. The way we played in the World Cup, that reminded us that the game was still too far. Whatever works for the team, we’ll take the call,” Suryakumar said after the game.
For a repeat of the first T20I, Charith Asalanka became the captain of Sri Lanka and decided to bowl first.
After batting, India posted 213/7 in 20 overs with Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.
Matesha Pathirana is Sri Lanka’s greatest batsman. Dilshan Madhushankar, Asita Fernando and Haseanga each took a wicket.
Matheesha Pathirana was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers as she took four wickets in four innings where she scored 40 runs. Dilshan Madhushanka, Asitha Fernando and Haseanga took one wicket each in their spells.
Chasing a mammoth total of 214, the hosts were bowled out for 170 runs in 19.2 overs. With that win, the Men in Blue lead the three-game series 1-0.
The top scorer for the team was the opening batsman Pathum Nissanka who played a good innings of 79 from 48 balls which was laced with seven fours and four sixes.
Wicket-keeping batsman Kushal Mendis also scored a 27-ball 45 with seven fours and a six. No other batsman apart from these two could make a mark in the match.
Indian spinner Riyan Parag was the highest wicket taker. He took three wickets in 1.2 overs conceding just five runs. Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel shared two wickets each and Mohammed Siraj, Ravi Bishnoi took one wicket each in their spell.
