Suryakumar Yadav matched Virat Kohli‘s record for the most Player of the Match awards in T20Is during India’s 43-run victory over Sri Lanka on July 28 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The 33-year-old batsman reached this milestone after the visitors defeated Charith Asalanka’s team.
The list of players with the most Player of the Match (POTM) awards in T20Is includes Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi, India’s Rohit Sharma, and Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh. However, Kohli and Sharma have retired from T20I cricket following the T20 World Cup 2024.
Most number of Player of the Match award in T20Is
Suryakumar Yadav – 16 (69 matches)
Virat Kohli – 16 (125 matches)
Sikandar Raza – 15 (91 matches)
Mohammad Nabi – 14 (129 matches)
Rohit Sharma – 14 (159 matches)
Virandeep Singh – 14 (78 matches)
SKY shines in series opener
In the series opener, Suryakumar Yadav delivered a dominant performance, scoring 58 runs off just 26 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes while batting at number 3. His explosive innings propelled India to a formidable total of 213/7 after they were asked to bat first.
Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant combined for a 76-run partnership, with Pant contributing a valuable 49 runs off just 33 balls, including six fours and a six. This came after openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill had given India a strong start.
Riyan Parag’s three-wicket haul helped India restrict Sri Lanka to 170 in 19.2 overs, securing a crucial 1-0 lead in the series. The teams will face off again in the second T20I on Sunday, July 28 in Pallekele.