IPL 2023: Suryakumar Yadav scores his first IPL century – ‘The stuff of legends’

Suryakumar Yadav is limitless. That has already been established. The fact that he already has three centuries in T20I cricket is indicative of that. But along with some classic Suryakumar-esque hitting came a milestone that eluded him for long: on Friday in Mumbai, he brought up his first century in the Indian Premier League.

Striking at an explosive 210.20, the No 1 T20I batter in the world looked in incredible touch as he unleashed a wide range of shot in his unbeaten 103* off 49. As a result, Mumbai Indians finished with 218/5 against Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium.

Although the Mumbai batter found himself struggling in the initial few games, he has returned rather strongly with scores 103*, 83, 26, 66, 55, 23, 57 in the last seven innings.

“The way he played was unbelievable. It was pretty hard as a bowler, that’s how he plays in this format,” Rashid Khan, who picked up four wickets amid all this carnage, said in the mid-innings interview.

Commentators on air also in awe of the carnage they witnessed. “As good a T20 innings I have ever seen,” Aaron Finch said on Star Sports.

“The best shot was the one he played over third man for a six,” Mithali Raj added.

“I think it’s a privilege to be here,” Kevin Pietersen chimed in.

It was just one of those nights as SKY lit up the Wankhede Stadium.

Rashid Khan also turned up for Gujarat Titans with the bat, scoring a phenomenal 79* off 32 in the 200-plus run-chase. It got his side close to the total but it wasn’t enough there was no support on the other end. Eventually, Yadav’s innings proved to be the highlight in MI’s 27-run victory.

Here’s a look at more reactions on the Suryakumar Kumar century:

The blazing unbeaten century by Suryakumar Yadav helped Mumbai Indians beat the reigning IPL champions Gujarat Titans by 27 runs in Mumbai on Friday and solidify their own playoff hopes.

Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to field, but immediately faced aggressive hitting by Mumbai skipper and opener Rohit Sharma, who hit 18-ball 29, in a 61-run opening partnership with Ishan Kishan.

However, Mumbai lost Sharma, Kishan (31) and rookie Nehal Wadhera (15) to slip to 88-3 before Yadav took charge for his first IPL century in yet another player-of-the-match performance.

Khan, who removed both the openers as well as Wadhera and Tim David, was the only threatening Gujarat bowler.

Gujarat then made the worst possible start, losing openers Wriddhiman Saha (2), Shubman Gill (6) and skipper Pandya (4) by the fourth over.

In-form all-rounder Vijay Shankar (29) failed to convert a promising start and fell to Piyush Chawla’s leg spin.

The current IPL table-toppers kept losing wickets to tight lengths by Mumbai spinners Chawla (2-36) and Kumar Kartikeya (2-37).

Indian rookie pacer Akash Madhwal bowled four tight overs and took three wickets for 31 runs and Mumbai looked set wrap the game early before Khan’s arrival.

Mumbai had no answers to Khan’s power.

Pandya said that it “felt like only Rashid Khan turned up from our team (and) batted and bowled incredibly well”.

“People have spoken enough about” Yadav, “one of the best batters in T20 cricket. Really tough to set fields for him,” Pandya said about his India teammate after the defeat.

With AFP inputs