Suryakumar Yadav’s grind in domestic cricket paid off when he finally shot to fame for his Indian Premier League (IPL) appearances. Making his IPL debut in 2012 with the Mumbai Indians (MI), he played only one match, in which he was dismissed for a duck, but his breakthrough came with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014.

In the same season, SKY excelled in the role of a finisher by scoring 608 runs in 54 matches. His innovative shots also had a lot of eye-catching scoops, later touted as the Supla shot, which often upset the plans of the opposition captains and bowlers.

However, a return to MI ahead of the 2018 IPL season for INR 3.2 Crores brought out the best in Suryakumar Yadav, as the franchise generally played him at 3 or 4. The statistics also improved as he scored 512 runs from 14 matches in the 2018 IPL before making 424 runs from 16 matches in a title-winning 2019 season.

The subsequent IPL season in 2020 proved to be defining for the dynamic right-handed batter. He amassed 480 runs at an average of 40, a strike rate of 145+, with 4 half-centuries to his name. Eventually, the Mumbai Indians went on to lift their 5th IPL title, becoming only the second team to secure consecutive wins.

Suryakumar’s 2024 IPL season was a masterclass in resilience, much like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Sidelined in the early part of the tournament due to fitness concerns, he returned with a vengeance, wielding his bat like a sword, cutting through opposition attacks with effortless ease.

Across 11 matches, he amassed 345 runs at a staggering strike rate of 167.48, his innings often resembling a fireworks display — brief, breathtaking, and capable of turning the tide in an instant.

One of his most dazzling performances came against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, where Suryakumar Yadav orchestrated a run-chase of a lifetime. Walking in at a hazardous 31/3, he played with sublime touch, crafting an unbeaten 102 off 51 balls.

His achievements in the season further cemented his legacy. He became only the second MI player, after Rohit Sharma, to score multiple IPL centuries. Like a sculptor chiselling his name in stone, he etched his place among the greats. The season also saw him surpass 7,000 T20 runs and cross 3,500 in the IPL, milestones that showcased his consistency and longevity in the game.

Recognising his consistent performances and invaluable contributions, MI retained the Indian T20I captain ahead of the IPL 2025 for a whopping price tag of INR 16.75 crores, which is as much as the MI skipper Hardik Pandya's price.

Suryakumar Yadav’s International Career

Calls for Suryakumar’s maiden India cap resonated across the country and beyond after impressive performances season after season. His stare-off against the then-Indian captain, Virat Kohli, during a game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the same season caused a lot of uproar within the cricketing fraternity.

Selectors eventually picked Suryakumar Yadav for the England white-ball series in early 2021. Making his T20I debut on March 14, 2021, in Ahmedabad, he started his international career with his trademark flick shot behind square off Jofra Archer for a six.

The Mumbai batter changed the landscape of T20 cricket since making his international debut. Head and Shoulders above the rest.

Suryakumar Yadav scored 239 runs in 6 games in the 2022 T20 World Cup, the third most in the tournament. His knock against South Africa, on an unplayable surface at Perth, was the highlight of the tournament, along with fireworks against the Netherlands.

While SKY aced the T20 game, his struggles became evident in the longer formats. He made his Test debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023, scoring only 8 runs in the one innings he played in the series. Then, he recorded three consecutive golden ducks in the ODI series versus the Aussies.

Despite his struggles in ODI cricket, the team continued to back him and even selected him for the 2023 World Cup, where he failed again, scoring just 106 runs in seven innings at an average of 17.67. For his continued heroics in the shortest format of the game, he became the T20I cricketer of the year for 2023 for the second time in a row.

With seniors either resting or injured, Suryakumar led the side in the T20I series against Australia and South Africa, immediately following the World Cup. Team India came out victorious in both these assignments, and the stand-in skipper even blasted a ton in the final match versus the Proteas.

Suryakumar Yadav injured his ankle in the T20I series against South Africa. He was also diagnosed with a sports hernia, for which he underwent surgery in Germany in January 2024.

However, his good form was enough for the selectors to pick him for the T20 World Cup 2024. Across eight innings, he accumulated 199 runs at an average of 28.42 and a strike rate of 135.37.

While his numbers may not have been the highest in the tournament, his ability to deliver under pressure made him an invaluable asset to the team. One of his most crucial knocks came against the USA in the group stage, where he anchored the chase with an unbeaten 50*, guiding India to victory in a tricky situation. He followed it up with another important 53-run innings against Afghanistan in the Super 8s, ensuring India maintained their dominance in the tournament.

In October 2024, he was appointed as India's T20I captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement in June 2024; his leadership was backed by his consistent availability, prior experience, and strong rapport with teammates.

So far, under his captaincy, India has not lost a single T20I series, and he guided the team to the T20 Asia Cup 2025 title. As a leader, Suryakumar Yadav has also steered in a new era of young, fearless cricketers, with players like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and others flourishing under his guidance.

(As of February 2026)