Suryakumar Yadav named ICC Men’s T20I cricketer of the Year for 2022

India’s right-handed batter Suryakumar Yadav was named winner of the ICC Men’s T20I cricketer of the year 2022 award. He also becomes the first Indian to win the honour.

Other nominees for the award were England’s left-arm pace all-rounder Sam Curran, Zimbabwe’s off-spin all-rounder Sikandar Raza and 2021 award winner, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.

Suryakumar had an unforgettable year with the bat breaking an array of records and setting a benchmark like never before in the format. He became just the second batter to make more than 1000 runs with his 360-degree strokeplay in a calendar year in T20Is. He ended the year as the highest run-getter, scoring 1164 runs in 31 matches, averaging 46.56 at a mind-blowing strike-rate of 187.43.

32-year-old Suryakumar scored a record 68 sixes during the year, which is by far the highest by any player in a year in T20I history. He was undoubtedly the standout men’s T20I batter in the year, scoring two centuries and nine fifties, achieving a career-high 890 rating points to become the top-ranked T20I batter in 2022.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗖𝗖 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗧𝟮𝟬𝗜 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣

Congratulations @surya_14kumar 👏🏻👏🏻#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/YdgWWxvkAW

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2023

Suryakumar was in his best form during the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, smashing 239 runs at an outstanding average of 59.75, hitting three fifties in six innings at an impressive strike rate of 189.68.

In the second T20I against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, he scored his second T20I century with an unbeaten 111 off just 51 balls, hitting 11 fours and seven sixes all over the park at a strike rate of 217.65

There were quite a few standout performances from Suryakumar during the year. But his memorable performance in the year came in Nottingham against England when he made his maiden T20I hundred, a stunning 117 off 55 balls.

While chasing a mammoth total of 216, Suryakumar lifted India from 31/3 with his outrageous stroke-making, and almost pulled off a victory for his side by chasing down the target. After his dismissal, India’s hopes of a famous victory ended, but he put the team within touching distance of what would have been an incredible win.

“Thank you so much, ICC for naming me ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year. It’s a great feeling as 2022 was amazing for me. From a personal point of view, I enjoyed the few knocks I played in that year.” said Suryakumar on receiving the award.

“If I had to pick one knock which was very special to me, was the first hundred for my country (against England in the third T20I at Nottingham) because the first hundred is always special. Hopefully, many more knocks to come,” he added.