Surya Kumar Yadav is a heavy-hitting fan favourite!
Suryakumar Yadav has enjoyed a stellar T20I career, securing the top spot in the ICC Men's Rankings for T20I batters. With an impressive strike rate of 172.70 and three centuries in the format, he has made a mark. However, his ODI performance in the Asia Cup 2023 was lacklustre, keeping him on the sidelines. Despite this, he found a spot in India's squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Hailing from Mumbai, the renowned cricketer still has some lesser-known aspects. Let's explore five intriguing facts about Suryakumar Yadav!
The Mumbai-based cricketer, a right-handed batter, represents Mumbai in domestic cricket. Contrary to common belief, Suryakumar Yadav was not born in Maharashtra but in Uttar Pradesh! His relocation to Mumbai occurred at age 10, accompanying his father, Ashok Kumar Yadav, who moved for a job at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Since then, Suryakumar has called Mumbai home, representing the city in cricket from his formative years in age-group competitions to the senior team.
Suryakumar Yadav has been married to Devisha Shetty for seven years now. Despite their frequent appearances together during cricket tours, details about the origin and evolution of their love story remain relatively unknown. The couple first crossed paths during their college years at the R. A. Podar College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. Suryakumar was captivated by Devisha's dancing skills. Their relationship blossomed between 2012 and 2016. It led to an engagement on May 29, 2016. Ultimately, they tied the knot on July 7.
Suryakumar Yadav is often recalled for his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which he joined in 2014 for INR 70 lakh. His reputation soared while donning the Knight Riders jersey, earning him the vice captaincy for three years before making a move to Mumbai in 2018. Surprisingly, before his association with KKR, Suryakumar had already played for the Mumbai Indians in an IPL 2012 match, though this fact might not be widely known. Unfortunately, in that particular game, the talented batter was dismissed without scoring, facing just four balls.
Suryakumar Yadav secured the Champions League title for the Mumbai Indians in 2011, marking a significant achievement even before his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a low-scoring final against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Mumbai triumphed by 31 runs. Suryakumar played a pivotal role in the match, contributing 24 runs off 17 balls, including two boundaries and a six. He emerged as the second-highest run scorer for Mumbai, following James Franklin's 41 off 29 balls. Mumbai posted a total of 139 in 20 overs and successfully defended it, limiting Bangalore to 108 runs and clinching the title. This victory marked the first instance where Suryakumar Yadav showcased his true potential on a global stage.
Suryakumar Yadav's T20 prowess is widely recognised among cricket enthusiasts worldwide. His introduction to international cricket came with a six against England in Ahmedabad in 2021, where the right-handed batter played a stellar innings of 57 off 31 balls, earning him the Player of the Match accolade. Since then, he has significantly progressed and currently holds a crucial role in India's T20I squad. While Suryakumar's aggressive batting style is well documented, not many fans are aware that he boasts the highest strike rate among current players.
After 50 innings, Suryakumar Yadav maintains a remarkable strike rate of 172.70, standing at the top of the list. Romania's Taranjeet Singh comes in second in the rankings with a strike rate of 171.21 from 24 matches.
