Suryakumar Yadav becomes first Indian, second player overall to score 1000 T20I runs in a calendar year

Just four days ago, Suryakumar became No. 1 in T20I cricket, going past Rizwan in the latest ICC rankings.

Just four days ago, Suryakumar became No. 1 in T20I cricket, going past Rizwan in the latest ICC rankings update. | Photo Credit: AP

Suryakumar Yadav became the first Indian and only the second player in the world to score 1000 runs or more in a calendar year during the Super 12 match against Zimbabwe at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Suryakumar smacked a 25-ball 61 to power India to 186/5. He struck four sixes and six fours at a strike-rate of 244!

Suryakumar became only the second batter after Mohammad Rizwan to achieve the feat. Rizwan had scored 1326 runs in 2021.

Just four days ago, Suryakumar became the No. 1 batter in T20I cricket, going past Rizwan in the latest ICC rankings.

Suryakumar has been in terrific form in the ongoing men’s T20 World Cup, having scored two half-centuries in his first three outings; his 68 off 40 balls against South Africa came in conditions where other Indian batters struggled. He is also the leading run-getter in T20Is in 2022, with 1006 runs, including a century.

Suryakumar has one T20I century and an impressive 11 half-centuries to his name, but it’s the batting strike rate in excess of 177 and an ability to score in all parts of the ground and be a 360-degree player that stands out.