Asia Cup 2022: India's middle order batsman Suryarkumar Yadav set multiple records after he played a whirlwind inning of 68 runs in just 26 balls, which featured six 6s and six fours, against Hong Kong on Wednesday. He set a new record for hitting the most sixes by an Indian in an Asia Cup T20 game. No Indian player in a Twenty20 Asia Cup game had struck more than three sixes previously.
Suryakumar smashed four sixes in the 20th over of India's innings, scoring 26 runs in total in the last over. He smashed Hong Kong's Haroon Arshad all over the park to boost India's total to 192 for 2.
Suryakumar became also set a new record for scoring the maximum number of runs by an Indian batsman (26) in the final over of a Twenty20 International match.
At the same time, he also equalled the record of Rohit Sharma for hitting the second highest runs in an over by an Indian in T20Is. Yuvraj’s 36 in an over against England in 2007 remains at the top, followed by Suryakumar and Rohit's 26 runs.
After his blistering knock, the right-handed batsman spoke about the shots he played.
“I haven’t practised those strokes, but I used to play rubber ball cricket with my friends when I was a kid and that is where these shots come from. The pitch was a little sticky before. Before I got out to bat, I spoke to Rohit and Rishabh and told them that I would try to take the tempo up and look for 170-175. I think we have a good score on this wicket,” Suryakumar Yadav said during the innings break.
The hard-hitting batter said he is flexible enough to bat anywhere in the Indian T20 team.
"I am flexible to bat at any number, wherever you tell me. I have told the coach and captain to send me at any number but just play me," Suryakumar said at the post-match press conference.
Suryakumar's blistering unbeaten 68 and Virat Kohli's valiant unbeaten 59 off 44 helped India record a 40-run win over underdogs Hong Kong in the Asia Cup 2020.