Suryakumar Yadav

'I always wanted to be a bit different,' Suryakumar says of his thirst for innovation in batting. Be it his signature pick-up flick over fine-leg or his stupendous ability to carve yorkers over the ropes, Suryakumar Yadav, or SKY as he’s better known, defies convention, makes jaws drop and outrages bowlers nearly every time he walks out. Despite being a relatively late entrant into India’s T20 setup, Suryakumar Yadav quickly established himself as one of the vital cogs once he got his opportunity.

Training under the guidance of his paternal uncle and then at the Elf Vengsarkar Academy, Suryakumar Yadav worked his way through the Mumbai cricketing circuit and made his first-class debut against Delhi during the 2010-11 Ranji season. He had a great start to his career as he top-scored for Mumbai with a well compiled 73 and was the only player to score a fifty in Mumbai's first innings. He had a breakthrough Ranji Trophy season in 2011-12 where he was the top-scorer for Mumbai with 754 runs in 9 games and later in the year, he was the recipient of the MA Chidambaram Trophy awarded to the Best Under-22 cricketer.

Impressed by his talent, he received an IPL contract from Mumbai Indians in 2011, for whom he played a few IPL matches until 2013, before getting picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders. It was for the Kolkata-based franchise that his ability to improvise gained some popularity. The knack of playing useful cameos lower down the order came in handy, and he featured in every single game of the Knight Riders' title-winning campaign in 2014. But after a few seasons there, where although he made useful contributions, the opportunities to really make an impression were few and far between, he was re-signed by MI again - a move that proved to be a revelation.

Picked to open the batting for IPL 2018, Suryakumar finished as the highest run-getter in the tournament for Mumbai with a remarkable tally of 512 runs (Avg. 36.57, S/R 133.33). His remarkable consistency was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the franchise. However, that season was but a sign of what was to follow. SKY continued to amass the runs and capture the imagination through the following seasons. Scoring 424 and 480 runs in 2019 and 2020, SKY was instrumental in Mumbai’s back-to-back title triumphs and calls for his inclusion into India’s national setup started to grow louder.

SKY’s T20I debut finally came in March of 2021 in a home series against England and staying true to his reputation, he hit the first ball he faced for six en-route to a maiden fifty. The 2021 T20 World Cup was underwhelming for both India and SKY but come 2022, everything was about to change. His performances that year were nothing short of a dream. After cracking a maiden T20I century against England at Trent Bridge, he added two more to the tally - one in New Zealand and another against Sri Lanka at Rajkot. He was also the 3rd highest run-scorer at the 2022 T20 World Cup and his antics earned him the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award for 2022.

Suryakumar Yadav continued to dominate the IPL in 2023 as well where he scored 605 runs in 16 games and was the leading run-scorer for the Mumbai Indians. By now firmly established in India’s limited overs setup, he was a part of India’s squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The disappointment after India lost in the final was palpable and SKY’s own performances with bat did little to mitigate it.

Despite all his antics with bat, Suryakumar Yadav will probably be best remembered for taking the catch that effectively won India the 2024 T20 World Cup. In a tight final with South Africa marginally ahead, SKY took a superb catch on the long-off boundary to dismiss David Miller in the final over. While the country was rife in celebration post India’s triumph, SKY had a little personal achievement to celebrate too as he was named India’s T20I captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format.

Since taking over as T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav has led India to series wins away to Sri Lanka and South Africa, while also thumping England at home. He has helped usher in a new wave of young, fearless cricketers with the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and others thriving under his leadership. However, SKY’s personal form hasn’t reached the lofty heights it once had since taking over captaincy responsibilities.

By Anurag Hegde