In a career-defining moment, Suryakumar Yadav will step onto the field in Nagpur for his 100th T20 International against New Zealand, etching his name among India’s T20I greats as the fourth player to achieve this feat.
The milestone comes after 99 matches, where Yadav has showcased his 360-degree batting prowess. Leading the charts are Rohit Sharma (159), Virat Kohli (125), and Hardik Pandya (124). Interestingly, Pandya could equal Kohli’s count in this series opener. Former skipper MS Dhoni’s 98 games place him tantalizingly close.
2025 has tested Yadav’s resilience; no half-centuries in 22 outings last year left fans yearning for vintage SKY. This game presents a golden opportunity to silence doubters with a match-winning knock, revitalizing India’s T20 campaign.
Yadav thrives against the Kiwis, averaging 47.33 with 284 runs in eight T20Is from 2021-2023 at a strike rate of 153.51. His unbeaten 111 stands as testimony to his dominance.
Boasting 2,788 runs with four tons and 21 fifties in 93 innings, Yadav’s stats are elite. With Rohit and Kohli retired, the onus falls on him to carry the baton. Expect fireworks in Nagpur as SKY aims to make his century memorable, boosting team morale and his own standings in the record books.