Thiruvananthapuram: Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav has been honoured with the ‘ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year’ award for 2023 as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Earlier, he was recognized as the ICC’s T20I Captain of the Year award for 2023. Recognised as the “backbone of Bharat’s middle order” in the T20 format, Yadav showcased stellar performances throughout 2023, boasting an average nearing 50 and an impressive strike rate exceeding 150.
Presenting the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year 2023 😎🙌
Congratulations Surya Kumar Yadav 👏👏#TeamIndia | @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/7RuXwQu7Am
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 24, 2024
Despite facing a setback by scoring just seven runs against Sri Lanka in their first match last year, Yadav bounced back by scoring in the range of up to 40 runs, setting the tone for another prolific year. His contributions included an innings of 83 (44) against the West Indies and half-centuries against Australia and South Africa.
A standout moment came in the final T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg, where Yadav posted a remarkable 100 off just 56 balls. His blazing knock of 112 off 51 balls against Sri Lanka in January featured nine sixes and seven fours, making it the second-fastest century for Bharat in men’s T20Is, just behind Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball effort in 2017 against the same opponent.
Currently recovering from a groin surgery in Germany, Yadav is expected to return to action for the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL season in March. The ICC highlighted his consistent match-winning contributions, marking him as a key player in Bharat’s T20 setup for the second consecutive year.
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