Today, Suryakumar Yadav is the face of contemporary T20 batting. In addition to mentoring new shot-making skills, the current captain of India T20I and Mumbai Indians has demonstrated how to be reliable in the IPL. The 34-year-old talked candidly about his development and the effort that goes into his performances.
The right-hander talked about how, in his early days with the team, he primarily warmed the bench. However, since 2020, his career has taken a new turn in both the IPL and international cricket.
In recent years, the T20 format has undergone significant alteration in terms of strike rates, scoring rates, and other aspects. I used to bat with a strike rate of 140–150, but after 2020, I knew that I needed to change if I wanted to be the best. I started over, focused on match simulations, and began honing shots that would keep me ahead of captains and bowlers. He stated on JioHotstar’s special show, The Suryakumar Yadav Experience, that from 2021 to 2024, he concentrated on taking advantage of particular opportunities and identifying scoring choices where he could also reduce risk.
His unbeaten 102 off 51 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024—his second IPL century and one of the most memorable efforts in a victorious run-chase for MI—made this shift clear. With 12 fours and six sixes, the innings helped Mumbai get back on track with their campaign.
“I aim to duplicate those sessions exactly—I’ve already rehearsed everything I do in matches now. It took a lot of work and clarity to get a T20 century, so it felt very special,” Surya continued.
The seasoned batter is currently ranked third on the list of top run-scorers, continuing to play well into the 2025 Indian Premier League. In just 2714 balls, he became the fastest Indian to achieve the 4000-run mark in the IPL.
Suryakumar Yadav also hit 150 sixes in the league during the game against the Lucknow Super Giants at Wankhede.
After a slow start, the MI batter has been instrumental in keeping his side in third place on the points standings. The five-time winners’ next game is scheduled for May 1 in Jaipur against the Rajasthan Royals.
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