Suryakumar Yadav equals Babar Azam, David Warner's massive T20I record; Only behind Virat Kohli in elite list

India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has joined the elite group of cricketers after leading the national team to victory over Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series. Suryakumar Yadav is now just behind legendary Virat Kohli in the list of most Player of the Series awards in the shorter international format.

Suryakumar Yadav led the Men in Blue to a 3-0 victory in the recently concluded T20I series in Sri Lanka. The visiting team secured a victory through a Super Over in the third and final T20I match in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 30. Suryakumar was awarded "Player of the Series" for his batting performances.

The 33-year-old cricketer scored 58 runs off 26 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes, during the series. He then amassed 26 runs off 12 balls in the rain-curtailed match. He managed to score just eight runs off nine balls in the last match. He finished the series as the leading scorer for the Indian team.

Suryakumar Yadav Joins Elite List After Third T20I Match

Suryakumar Yadav earned his fifth Player of the Series award in T20 internationals. He is just behind Virat Kohli, who has six awards in T20 internationals. Suryakumar has an equal number of awards with Babar Azam, Shakib Al Hasan, and David Warner, but he achieved this with fewer matches in T20I cricket.

Most Player of the Series awards in T20Is

Virat Kohli (India) - 6 (in 125 matches)

Suryakumar Yadav (India) - 5 (in 71 matches)

Babar Azam (Pakistan) - 5 (in 123 matches)

David Warner (Australia) - 5 (in 110 matches)

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) - 5 (in 129 matches)

Yadav has played 71 T20I matches for India. He has scored 2432 runs at an average of 42.67 and a strike rate of 168.65, including four centuries and 20 half-centuries. He has established himself as a key player for India and one of the top T20I players globally. He is currently the second-ranked batter in T20I cricket.

India Complete 3-0 Whitewash In Sri Lanka T20Is

India made four changes to their playing XI for the third and final T20I match of the series. The Indian team managed to score just 137 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Shubman Gill top-scored for India, scoring 39 runs off 37 balls. Maheesh Theekshana took three wickets for 28 runs in four overs.

Chasing 138, Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis set a foundation with a 58-run stand. Mendis then added a 52-run stand with Kusal Perera. Ravi Bishnoi broke the stand by dismissing Mendis. Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav picked up two wickets each.

Rinku Singh took two crucial wickets when Sri Lanka needed nine off 12 balls. Suryakumar then bowled the final over. The Indian skipper conceded five runs, which led to the Super Over. Washington conceded just two runs in the Super Over before Surya guided the team to victory with a boundary.

Also read: Rohit Sharma issues an official statement after Suryakumar Yadav's India clean sweep Sri Lanka