During the match, Suryakumar played a hard hitting 69 points on just 36 balls. His sleeve was decorated with five delicious limits and five big sixes. He hit the ball at an impressive strike rate of 191.67.
This year, Suryakumar Yadav has scored 682 points at an average of 37.88 in 20 games in the shortest format. His best individual score this year is 117. A century and four half centuries came off his bat. Suryakumar’s strike rate is also at an impressive 182.84.
He is followed by Dipendra Singh Airee of Nepal (626), Sabawoon Davizi of the Czech Republic (612), Pakistan’s star hitter Mohammad Rizwan (556) and West Indian skipper Nicholas Pooran (553).
The hitter has shown a lot of consistency this year. He is ranked third in the ICC men’s T20I rankings for batting, behind Aiden Markram of South Africa and Rizwan of Pakistan.
Coming to the third T20I against Australia, the Australian visitors posted 186/7 in their 20 overs. Cameron Green (52 from 21 balls) helped the Australians off to an explosive start.
But after that spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (1/22) and Axar Patel (3/33) helped Men in Blue to a comeback, limiting the Australians’ running flow and leaving them struggling at 117/6 in 13, 5 overs.
Then a 68-point stand between Tim David (54) and Daniel Sams (28*) helped the visitors to 186/7 in their 20 overs. Axar was India’s star with the ball and continued his strong run in the series. Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel also got one wicket each.
Chasing 187, Team India lost openers KL Rahul (1) and skipper Rohit Sharma (17) quickly, leaving them struggling at 2/30. Then Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav sewed up a quick stand of 104 runs on 62 balls, with Yadav crushing the Australians all over the park and Virat anchoring the innings after scoring a few quick runs in his first 20 balls.
Yadav’s dismissal for 69 of 36 to Josh Hazlewood broke the bar. After that, Virat brought up his half-century and looked to finish the game, but was caught by skipper Aaron Finch on a delivery from Sams for a well-done 63 from 48. Hardik Pandya (25* on 16 balls) finished the game for India with a four, with one ball to spare. The Indian team finished their innings at 187/4, winning the game by six wickets.
Sams (2/33) played well for the Australians. Hazlewood and Pat Cummins also took one wicket apiece.
Suryakumar Yadav was named “Man of the Match” for his fiftieth birthday.