India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav etched his name into the record books by becoming the fastest batter to reach 3,000 runs in the format in terms of balls faced. He achieved the feat during a rapid 63-run innings in the fifth and final T20I of the series against New Zealand on Saturday, January 31, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Suryakumar reached the milestone on the fifth ball of the 13th over of India’s innings, hitting a boundary off Lockie Ferguson to move to 34 and go past the 3,000-run mark. He completed the landmark in just 1,822 deliveries, the quickest in T20I history, bettering the previous record held by UAE’s Muhammad Waseem, who had taken 1,947 balls.
The 35-year-old also became only the third Indian batter to cross 3,000 runs in T20 internationals, joining Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have amassed 4,231 and 4,188 runs respectively.
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Featuring in his 104th T20I, Suryakumar Yadav has now scored 3,030 runs from 98 innings, averaging 36.95 at a strike rate of 165.48, with 24 half-centuries and four hundreds, including a career-high 117.
Ishan Kishan’s Century And Suryakumar Yadav’s Fifty Drive India In 5th T20I
After choosing to bat first, India suffered an early setback with Sanju Samson departing for six in the third over. Abhishek Sharma provided a brisk start alongside him, scoring 30 off 16 balls. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan then tore into the New Zealand attack, putting together a 137-run partnership from just 57 deliveries for the third wicket.
Suryakumar smashed 63 runs from 30 balls, hitting four boundaries and six maximums. At the other end, Ishan Kishan brought up his maiden T20I hundred in style, reaching the milestone in 42 balls with a six. The left-hander eventually ended on 103 off 43 deliveries, including six fours and 10 sixes.
At the time of writing, India were cruising at 236/4 after 18 overs, with Hardik Pandya (28) and Rinku Singh (1) at the crease.
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