Suryakumar Yadav crowned ICC T20I Player of the Year for 2023

Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav has been crowned as the T20I Player of the Year for 2023 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday. The Mumbai Indians (MI) star has won this award for the second consecutive time. The global cricket governing body described him as the pillar holding the Indian middle-order together, with an average of nearly 50 supported with a strike rate above 150 capping off a successful 2023 for him in the shortest format of the international game.

"The backbone of India's middle order got starts throughout the year, delivering several match-winning contributions. This is the second consecutive year that the India batter has taken this award home," the ICC stated.

Yadav's first innings of just seven to start the year against Sri Lanka was a mere speed bump in another prolific year. "Consistent scoring in 20s to 40s continued, before an innings of 83 (44) against the West Indies in Providence proved his class. He ended the series against the West Indies with a knock of 61 (45) in Florida.

"Yadav flourished despite the burden of captaincy, taking the reins of a young side towards the end of the year," the world body stated. Yadav made half-centuries against Australia (80 off 42 balls) and South Africa (56 from 36 balls), before posting a 100 against the Proteas off just 56 balls in their final T20I of the year in Johannesburg.

His knock of 112 off 51 balls against Sri Lanka in January included nine sixes and seven fours, equating to almost a boundary every three deliveries. The effort was the second-fastest hundred for India in men's T20Is behind Rohit Sharma's 35-ball effort against the same opponent in 2017, and India were clear 91-run winners.

Yadav led India in the five T20Is that the team played against Australia in the aftermath of the loss in the final to them in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup in November. The player is currently recovering from a groin injury, for which he underwent treatment in Germany. He is expected to be back for the IPL 2024 for MI, after which he will play a key role in India's quest of winning the T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States of America (USA), starting in June this year.