Suryakumar Yadav once again showcased his class as the No. 1 T20 batter in the world, scoring a brilliant half-century against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 clash. Despite early departures of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar built a solid partnership with Hardik Pandya to help India reach a total of 181 runs in 20 overs. This innings also saw Suryakumar matching a World Record previously held by Virat Kohli.
As the top-ranked T20I batter in the world, Suryakumar showcased his trademark shots during his innings, showcasing his ability to take charge in the middle overs of the game. After early setbacks, Suryakumar mentioned that he leaned on his natural game and instincts to guide India to a competitive total.
Suryakumar’s performance earned him the Player of the Match award for the 15th time in T20 international cricket history. This achievement ties him with Kohli for the most Player of the Match awards, but Suryakumar reached this milestone in almost half the number of innings.
Reflecting on his partnership with Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar highlighted the understanding they share on the field, with Rohit being familiar with his game and providing support from the sidelines. Heading into the match undefeated in the tournament, India’s victory over Afghanistan further solidified their position as strong contenders in the T20 World Cup, while Afghanistan faced back-to-back defeats in