Suryakumar Yadav, captain of India’s T20 International side, marked five years in international cricket on Saturday, reflecting on a journey that began with a long-awaited debut and has since evolved into one of the most remarkable stories in modern Indian cricket. The 35-year-old batter shared a video on social media platform X to commemorate the milestone, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent the country.

“Five years ago, a dream turned into reality. Wearing the India jersey is a feeling I can still never fully put into words,” Yadav wrote in his post. He added that he looked forward to creating many more memories with the national team. Yadav made his international debut on March 14, 2021, at the age of 30 years and 181 days in a bilateral T20I match against England national cricket team in Ahmedabad.

Although he did not get a chance to bat in that debut match, Yadav quickly made an impression in the same series. In the fourth T20I, he announced his arrival in dramatic fashion by hitting Jofra Archer for a six off the very first ball he faced in international cricket. Since then, the stylish right-hand batter has become a key figure in India’s T20 setup and one of the most consistent performers in the format.

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Over the past five years, Yadav has accumulated 3,272 runs in 113 T20I matches, including four centuries and 25 half-centuries. He currently ranks third among India’s highest run-scorers in the format, behind Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. His ability to innovate and dominate bowlers across the field has made him one of the most exciting players in the shortest format of the game.

Yadav’s international career has extended beyond T20 cricket as well. He made his One Day International debut against Sri Lanka national cricket team in Colombo on July 18, 2021, and later played his first Test match against Australia national cricket team in Nagpur in 2023. With these appearances, he became the first Indian cricketer to debut in all three formats after turning 30.

The batter’s rise has also been marked by major achievements. He was named the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2022 and played a crucial role in India’s successful campaign at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where he scored 242 runs. One of the defining moments of the tournament came in the final when Yadav took a stunning boundary catch to dismiss David Miller against South Africa national cricket team, helping secure the title for India. As captain, he has led India in 52 T20Is, winning 42 matches and maintaining an impressive win percentage of over 80 percent.

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