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Suriya Kumar Yadav matches Virat Kohli’s world record©AFP
India’s Mr 360, Suryakumar Yadav, once again proved why he is the world’s best T20 batsman with a brilliant half-century as his team thwarted a challenge from Afghanistan in their T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 encounter on Thursday. Suryakumar came to bat when the likes of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant were dismissed early. The batsman forged a formidable partnership with Hardik Pandya to guide India to 181 runs in 20 overs. In the process, Suryakumar also equalled the world record held by Virat Kohli.
India defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs in the match, thanks to Surya’s 53 runs off 28 balls. As a result, the middle-order batsman was named the man of the match for the 15th time in the history of T20 international cricket – an all-time record also held by Kohli. Surya has now equalled the record of an Indian great, but he achieved it in almost half an innings.
Most POTM awards in T20I:
Suryakumar Yadav – 15 (61 innings)
Virat Kohli – 15 (113 innings)
Surya, the world’s number one ranked T20I batsman, played a traditional shot and barely touched an inch of the ground.
“It’s something I have been practising. I enjoy batting between the seventh and 15th overs because that is the most difficult phase for the opposition bowlers to try to control. I like to take control in those phases and it’s fun,” Surya told broadcasters during a break in the innings.
After India lost Rohit, Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli added 43 runs for the second wicket to somewhat steadied the sinking Indian ship, but Rashid Khan’s two strikes left India in disarray at 62-3.
“When he (Kohli) got out, I started chewing the gum harder. I just trusted my play and my instincts.”
“I have played a lot of cricket with him (Rohit Sharma) and now under him he understands my game. He knows how I play so I am relaxed and enjoying myself,” Surya said.
India came into the match on a perfect record, having won three group matches and having one game against Canada cancelled, while Afghanistan lost their final group game by 104 runs to the West Indies and then to Rohit Sharma’s side.
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