Suryakumar Yadav reaches new levels in T20I cricket; surpasses Kohli's record to secure 2nd position

The Indian Cricket Team was at its best when they bounced back against South Africa on Thursday in the 3rd T20I match. India lost the 2nd T20I after the first match was washed out due to rain. Heroics from Suryakumar Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal with batting and India’s bowling attack helped India tie the series at the Wanderers Stadium.

3 things you need to know 

• India beat South Africa by 106 runs in the 3rd T20I
• Suryakumar Yadav scored an incredible 100 runs of 56 balls 
• Suryakumar Yadav was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series 

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Suryakumar passes Kohli and gets close to Gayle

It's almost hard to contain Suryakumar Yadav when he lets his aggressive side go on the pitch. This was made clear on Thursday when the Indian captain faced South African bowler Andile Phehlukwayo during the third and final Twenty20 International match in Johannesburg, belting three sixes and a boundary.

Surya dominated Phehlukwayo in the 13th over, scoring 22 runs with a burst of sixes, a boundary, and two consecutive sixes. Notably, it was during this over that he hit fifty.

On the second delivery of the over, Surya launched an assault on Phehlukwayo, smashing his leg-cutter over cow corner for a huge six. Then he built a boundary and used a lofted on-drive for a maximum to reach his fifty.

Walking over the stumps and blasting a length ball over deep mid-wicket, Surya carried on his onslaught. This hit marked a century partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who contributed 23 runs to India's total in that over.

Suryakumar Yadav broke Virat Kohli's record of 117 sixes from 107 innings in Twenty20 Internationals on Thursday, moving up to the second spot as India's greatest six-hitter. With 123 sixes in just 57 innings, Suryakumar has an incredible record. He is currently just three sixes short of taking third place in T20I six-hitting. With 182 and 173 sixes, respectively, Rohit Sharma and Martin Guptill presently occupy the top spots. To further highlight the great company Suryakumar is in, Aaron Finch and Chris Gayle, the Universe Boss, have registered 125 and 124 sixes in T20Is.

 In addition, he reached a noteworthy milestone when he scored his fourth Twenty20 International century, breaking the mark held by Australian all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma.

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What's next for Team India?

After tying the T20I series, the focus will be on the ODI series which will commence on Sunday, December 17, 2023. SKY will be taking a rest and is not included in the ODI squad as he previously led India to a 4-1 series win against Australia. KL Rahul will captain India for the 3-match ODI series.