India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) delivered a masterclass at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium, smashing an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls against the USA. This marks his fourth half-century in just six matches in 2026, showcasing a phenomenal run of form where he has already amassed 326 runs this year. With this innings, Surya also reached the milestone of 1,000 runs as captain, recording the second-highest score by an Indian skipper in T20 World Cup history, trailing only Rohit Sharma’s 92 in 2024.
The innings was a rescue act of the highest order. Coming in at 45/2, Surya watched from the other end as the Indian top and middle order crumbled to 46/4 within the powerplay. Despite losing partners like Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya in quick succession, the 36-year-old explosive batter remained undeterred. He displayed his signature 360-degree shot-making, hitting seven boundaries and three sixes to guide India from a precarious position to a competitive total of 161/9.
Surya’s performance also etched his name among global legends. His 84* is now the second-highest score in a T20 World Cup debut innings as captain, falling just short of Chris Gayle’s 88. Furthermore, his late-overs assault on bowlers like Saurabh Netravalkar—including a 21-run final over—proved pivotal. By moving past Jos Buttler’s previous record against the USA, Surya has solidified his status as the cornerstone of India’s T20 batting lineup as the tournament progresses.
