Suryakumar Yadav continued his golden run in T20Is in 2022 as the India batter brought up his 2nd hundred in the shortest format of the game in the calendar year. Suryakumar set the stage on fire in Mount Maunganui, hitting a hundred in just 49 deliveries in the 2nd of a 3-match T20I series between India and New Zealand on Sunday, November 20.
Suryakumar Yadav became the second India batter after Rohit Sharma in 2018 to hit 2 hundreds in T20I cricket in a calendar year. Suryakumar had hit a stunning hundred, his maiden century in T20I cricket against England earlier this year.
Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 111 off just 51 balls as he hit more than half of India’s total of 191 for 6 in the 2nd T20I on Sunday. Suryakumar hit 7 sixes and 11 boundaries as he played with the field, showcasing his 360-degree range once again.
Suryakumar also posted the highest total by an India batter in New Zealand in T20Is, going past Rohit Sharma’s tally of 65 from January 2020.
It was a knock of high qualify as Suryakumar, like he always does, got off to a rapid start. The World No. 1 T20I batter walked into bat at No. 3 in the absence of Virat Kohli and got going from the word go.
India opened with Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant but the experiment did not yield results straightaway as Pant walked back for 6 off 13 deliveries.
The ball was moving around a bit on an overcast evening in Mount Maunganui but nothing faced Suryakumar who stamped his authority on the New Zealand bowling attack.
Suryakumar did not let the two New Zealand spinners, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner settle down. Suryakumar played the inside-out shots to perfection, picking up boundaries at regular intervals to keep the scoreboard moving.
Suryakumar lost Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer but he kept going after the New Zealand bowlers with ease. Suryakumar launched into Lockie Ferguson, smashing the express pacer to all parks of the ground. Suryakumar wonderfully used the pace of the former Gujarat Titans pacer as he played his favourite scoops and flicks behind square.
India picked up 72 runs in the last 5 overs and Suryakumar was the architect of the team’s strong finish. He took the attack to Ferguson, Milne and Southee in a batting display of supreme class and innovation.
