Suryakumar Yadav has had a great year in 2023, particularly shining in the T20I format. Recognizing his outstanding performances, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has honored him as the Men’s T20I cricketer of the year for 2023.
Suryakumar Yadav had a remarkable 2023, especially in T20I cricket where he scored an impressive 733 runs in just 17 innings, boasting an average of 48.87.
Surya is currently the number one ranked T20I batter in the ICC ranking. In November and December 2023, he captained the Indian National Cricket Team in T20Is against Australia and South Africa. His leadership led India to a 4-1 victory against Australia in the T20I series, followed by success in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. He took charge as the deputy to Hardik Pandya, who faced an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh.
Suryakumar Yadav’s 2023 T20I performance was stellar, with five half-centuries and two centuries, making him the highest run-scorer (excluding associate nations) in the format. Under his captaincy, India achieved a 1-1 draw against South Africa in the three-match T20I series. In the third match, he showcased his batting prowess by scoring his fourth T20I century, placing him alongside Glenn Maxwell with four centuries each.
This marks Suryakumar Yadav’s second consecutive win of the ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year award. He previously secured the title in 2022, amassing 1164 runs in 31 innings at an average of 46.56, including two centuries against England and New Zealand. In his T20I career, he has accumulated 2141 runs in 57 innings with 17 half-centuries and four centuries, holding a remarkable average of 45.55 and a strike rate of 171.55.
Despite not making significant strides in other cricket formats, Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I record for India is phenomenal. Currently recovering from a groin surgery in Germany, he missed the Afghanistan T20I series. However, reports suggest he will be ready for the upcoming IPL tournament and commence his rehabilitation at the NCA soon. As India gears up for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Suryakumar Yadav is poised to be a crucial asset in the campaign, with the tournament jointly hosted by the Caribbean Islands and the United States.
