Suryakumar Yadav took charge as the captain for India in the T20I series opener against Australia on November 23. The 33-year-old, leading the team for the first time in T20Is, showcased a stellar performance by scoring 80 runs off 43 balls. This innings played a pivotal role in India achieving their highest T20I run chase and securing a two-wicket victory.
Notably, Suryakumar Yadav became the 13th Indian cricketer to captain the T20I side. His debut as captain also marked him as the second oldest Indian, after Shikhar Dhawan, to take on this role for the first time. The match, held at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, witnessed Suryakumar breaking several records.
Choosing to field after winning the toss, Suryakumar Yadav’s strategic decision limited Australia to a total of 208 runs, despite a remarkable century from Josh Inglis. In response, Suryakumar, along with contributions from Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh, led India to victory in 19.5 overs.
Rinku Singh hit a six on the thrilling last ball adding excitement to the match. Suryakumar’s captaincy debut not only secured India’s win but also marked him as the 10th leading six-hitter in T20Is, surpassing players like Colin Munro, Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, and David Miller.
Suryakumar Yadav received the Player of the Match award for his outstanding batting performance, marking his 13th in 54 T20Is. This accolade also positioned him ahead of Rohit Sharma, making him the second-highest recipient of this award for India in T20Is, with only Virat Kohli ahead of him.
Looking ahead, the second T20I between India and Australia is set to take place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, November 26.