India vs Sri Lanka: Suryakumar Yadav slams third T20I century, first ton of 2023

Rajkot, Jan 7: Star India batter Suryakumar Yadav continued his imperious form with the bat and slammed his career's third T20I century in the third and final match against Sri Lanka on Saturday (January 7).

The number-one ranked T20I batter in the world once again showcased his 360-degree hits and notched up his ton off just 45 deliveries. With that, the exceedingly talented batter slammed the second-fastest century for India in the shortest format of the game.

He remained unbeaten on 112 off 51 balls and his knock was studded with seven fours and nine maximums. With his third century in the T20Is in a space of six months.

Suryakumar's heroics is also his first century at home and also the first hundred for Team India in the year 2023.

Suryakumar Yadav T20I centuries

117(55) vs Eng, Nottingham July 2022

111*(51) vs NZ, Mt Maunganui Nov 2022

112*(51) vs SL, Rajkot Jan 2023

Reacting over his knock, the Mumbaikar told, "I'm really happy with the way the innings went. Captain winning the toss and batting first showed faith in the batters, few shots are pre-determined, but these are the shots I've been playing over the last year and I'm not doing anything different. The 2022 form is gone, it's a fresh start in 2023 and I hope to continue doing well. It's a good pitch, a nice bounce and a lush outfield."

SKY in a league of his own

The Mumbai cricketer is the only player in the world with more than 1 hundred and 40+ average and 175+ Strike-Rate in T20Is.

He also became the first player to slam three T20I centuries outside the opening slot.

He is also the fastest batter to score 1500 T20I runs at a strike rate of 180.

No batter has hit more SIXES than Suryakumar Yadav ever since his T20I debut in 2021.

Suryakumar Yadav T20I Stats in 2022/23

Suryakumar Yadav's scores since his maiden T20I Century against England in Nottingham: 117,24, 11, 76, 24, 18, 68*, 13, 34, 6, 46, 0, 69, 50*, 61, 8, 15, 51*, 68, 30, 61*, 14, 111*, 7, 51, 112.

Suryakumar Yadav's T20I performance in 2023: 7 vs SL, 51 vs SL, 112 vs SL.

Suryakumar Yadav's runs in 2023: 170 runs in 3 innings; 1 Century & 1 Half-Century; Average - 85; Strike Rate - 175.25; Sixes - 12; Fours - 11

Suryakumar Yadav Vs Sri Lanka - 5 T20I innings, 254 runs, Highest Score - 112*, Average - 63.50, Strike Rate - 158.75, Sixes - 15, Fours - 17, Hundreds - 1, Half Century - 2

Performance In 2022-23 calendar year (till January 7 2023): SKY has scored 652* runs at an average of 72.44 and a strike rate of 188.98. He has slammed 2 centuries and 6 fifties. He has hit 59 fours and 38 sixes during this period.

Gambhir wants Suryakumar in Tests

Impressed with his batting performance and the way he toyed with Sri Lankan pacers and spinners, former India opener Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports, that he should be included in the Test format as well.

"He should be included in the Test team as well because he's in the form of his life and you should make full use of a player's rich vein of form. Surya is capable of changing the complexion of the game and the format won't bother him. I just hope that selectors utilise his potential in the red-ball format as well," Gambhir said.

Suryakumar slammed a fifty in the previous game which was played in Pune but his performance in that game went in vain as Team India lost the game by a margin of 16 runs.

"*" - Ongoing