Thiruvananthapuram is buzzing with anticipation as India gears up for the decisive fifth T20I against New Zealand. Captain Suryakumar Yadav stands on the cusp of history, needing just 33 runs to become the third Indian to reach 3,000 runs in T20 Internationals.
The year 2025 was a rollercoaster for SKY. In 22 T20 innings, he failed to notch a single half-century, raising eyebrows ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. His form slump was India’s biggest headache in the middle order. But the New Zealand series has sparked a revival. Over the last four matches, Yadav smashed two explosive fifties—82 and 56—alongside scores of 32 and 8, signaling his return to peak power-hitting.
This resurgence has steadied India’s batting lineup, making their middle order a formidable force once again. On Saturday, if Yadav crosses 33 runs in Thiruvananthapuram, he’ll join an elite club. Only Rohit Sharma (4,231 runs in 151 innings) and Virat Kohli (4,188 runs in 117 innings) have more for India in T20Is. Both legends retired from the format after leading India to glory in the last World Cup.
Yadav’s T20I record speaks volumes: 2,967 runs in 97 innings across 103 matches at an average of 36.62, featuring four centuries and 23 fifties. Had 2025 matched his reputation, he might have shattered several records by now. As the series hangs in balance, all eyes are on SKY to etch his name in the record books and propel India to victory.