From fireworks in Rajkot to calm authority in Colombo, India's skipper has often lit up contests with the Lankans
There is something about Sri Lanka that
brings out the artist in Suryakumar Yadav. Some batters score runs; SKY paints them. Against Sri Lanka, India’s current T20I captain has not only scored but also dazzled, dismantling attacks with a blend of daring and elegance.
Across 8 innings against Sri Lanka, SKY has accumulated 346 runs at an average of 49.42 and a strike rate of 167.14 - including 1 century and 3 fifties. His record is filled not just with runs but with intent, an intent that often takes the wind out of Sri Lanka’s bowling strategies.
As India prepares for their Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash on September 26 in Dubai, it is worth revisiting the top Suryakumar Yadav masterclasses against Sri Lanka - innings that cemented his reputation as a once-in-a-generation shot-maker.
Rajkot, January 2023 - the coronation of 112*
If one knock could define SKY’s meteoric rise, it was this. At Rajkot, he batted like a man possessed, smashing an unbeaten 112 off just 51 balls. With 7 fours and 9 sixes, his strike rate of 219.60 was scarcely believable.
Credit: ESPN
India posted a commanding 228/5 before bundling Sri Lanka out for 137 in reply, sealing a 91-run win. The shots that night defied geometry - inside-out lofts, wristy flicks, reverse scoops - each a reminder that SKY’s batting is not bound by convention but by imagination. It remains his highest score against Sri Lanka and one of his defining T20I knocks.
Pallekele, July 2024 - captain's knock under lights
Fast-forward to last year’s tour, when SKY took on the role of captain. On a humid evening in Pallekele, with Matheesa Pathirana steaming in, he scored a blazing 58 off 26 balls.
His control, clarity, and strike rate of 223.07 - it was a commanding innings. India posted 213 for 7, before dismissing Sri Lanka for 170. SKY’s fearless batting at the top set the tone for a 43-run victory and earned him Player of the Match. It proved that leadership hadn’t dulled his flair; if anything, it had strengthened it.
Pune, January 2023 - a fifty in vain
Sometimes, even a Suryakumar gem can't guarantee victory. In Pune, chasing a tough 207, SKY gently built a solid 51 off 36 balls, striking 3 fours and 3 sixes.
Credit: India Today
India ultimately fell just short at 190/8, losing by 16 runs, but SKY’s innings was a warm, steady bridge that kept the hope alive until the final overs. It perfectly highlighted his talent to switch gears - not always in hyperdrive, but in a thoughtful, deliberate way.
Colombo, July 2021 - the first impression
Rewind to Colombo in 2021, when SKY was still finding his feet in international cricket. Against Wanindu Hasaranga and a host of spinners, he scored a graceful 50 off 34 balls, featuring 5 fours and 2 sixes.
Credit: TOI
India made 164/5 before dismissing Sri Lanka for 126 to win by 38 runs. For SKY, this was more than just a maiden fifty; it marked the emergence of a new style of Indian batting, one that combined unorthodoxy with ruthless consistency.
