India bounced back from their second T20I loss with a robust 106-run win in the final match against South Africa. This prevented a series loss. The opening match was cancelled because of bad weather, which left the three-game series tied at 1-1.
With main players not present, Suryakumar Yadav took on captain duties for the last two T20I matches versus Australia and South Africa. The Men in Blue convincingly defeated the Aussies 4-1 in the series. When it came to South Africa, they had to fight harder to secure a draw in the series.
Suryakumar Yadav was named Player of the Series against South Africa for his outstanding batting performance in both games. In addition, Suryakumar Yadav became only the second Indian skipper to score a T20I century in the last game.
Suryakumar Yadav joins a long history of Indian leaders who have consistently been among the team’s greatest batsmen across all forms, including T20Is.
That being stated, let’s take a look at the best five T20I scores by an Indian skipper and see where Suryakumar Yadav’s recent century ranks.
1. Rohit Sharma – 118 vs Sri Lanka, 2017
That Rohit Sharma, perhaps the most potent white-ball hitter in India, tops this list is not surprising.
In the Indian T20I cricket series, when Virat Kohli was absent, Rohit filled in. In the home series against Sri Lanka, he did an amazing job. He secured a third double-century. This contributed to their clean 3-0 ODI series victory.
The 36-year-old player wasn’t done. In the subsequent T20I series, he took on the Sri Lankan bowlers with renewed force.
After missing out on a 93-run triumph in the first game, Rohit smashed the Lankans in the second game with a spectacular 118 off 43 deliveries. The champion hitter reached his century off only 35 balls, including 12 boundaries and 10 maximums.
It is the fastest T20I century by an Indian hitter and the third fastest overall, after only David Miller and Kushal Malla.
Rohit Sharma’s outstanding performance guided India to a mammoth 260/5 in 20 overs as they destroyed Sri Lanka by 88 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
2. Rohit Sharma – 111* vs West Indies, 2018
A year later, Rohit Sharma not only scored the second-highest score by an Indian skipper, but he also maintained his supremacy in T20Is.
In the 2018 Twenty20 International series, the Indian opener caused the West Indies to suffer once more. The Men in Blue led the three-match T20I series at home 2-0 after winning the Test and ODI series.
Rohit Sharma capped off the series with a magnificent 111* off 61 deliveries, propelling India to 195/2 in 20 overs. On a two-paced Lucknow surface, the captain made batting seem simple with eight fours and seven maximums.
In response, the West Indies collapsed to 124/9, giving the hosts a 3-0 series win.
In addition to his three ODI double hundreds, it was Rohit’s fourth T20I double century and his second as captain.
3. Suryakumar Yadav – 100 vs South Africa, 2023
India’s Suryakumar Yadav hit an impressive century in the recent match with South Africa. This is the third top score for an Indian player in T20Is.
Suryakumar Yadav, unlike Rohit, scored his century while batting in the middle order and came in when the team was in danger. With the team facing a series loss, the 33-year-old revitalized the Indian innings from 29/2 to 100 off 56 balls.
Suryakumar Yadav knock propelled India to a series-high 201/7 in the final T20I in Johannesburg, a score that proved 106 runs too many for the hosts.
SuryakumR became only the third batter in T20I history to reach four hundreds, joining Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell.
Suryakumar Yadav averaged an astounding 45.55 after 60 T20Is, demonstrating why he is named the No. 1 hitter in the format.
4. Virat Kohli – 94* vs West Indies, 2019
While the top three knocks occurred with India batting first, the greatest score by an Indian captain in a T20I run chase comes from the ‘Chase Master’ Virat Kohli.
It was the first game in a three-match T20I series versus the West Indies at home. Shimron Hetmyer’s half-century propelled the visitors to a massive 207/5 in 20 overs.
In response, Kohli grabbed center stage for the umpteenth time in a run chase, scoring 94* off 50 deliveries. With six fours and six sixes, the 35-year-old ensured India never trailed the run rate and finished the task with eight balls to spare.
The game is also known for Kohli’s retort to West Indian bowler Kesrick Williams by copying the celebration he made after dismissing the Indian star in a prior series. Williams took the brunt of Kohli’s attack, giving up 60 runs in 3.4 overs.
5. Rohit Sharma – 89 vs Bangladesh, 2018
It’s Rohit Sharma again, making his third appearance on this prestigious list.
In the absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit led India in a tri-series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, producing a gem in the side’s last round-robin game.
Batting first, the veteran batsman produced a beautiful 89 off 61 deliveries against Bangladesh on a shaky Colombo wicket to guide India to a total of 176/3 in 20 overs. In return, the Tigers could only produce 159 runs, giving the Men in Blue a 17-run victory.
Rohit’s innings featured five fours and two sixes before he was dismissed in the penultimate ball of the innings, 11 runs short of a well-deserved century.
The frosting on the cake for Rohit the skipper came when India won the championship by defeating Bangladesh in the final-ball drama, thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s late-game heroics.
