India leads 1-0 thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s blistering century, which eclipses Tim Southee’s hat-trick.

KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and now Rohit Sharma. There is no longer a list of Indian cricketers who have scored several T20I hundreds. SKY, the most popular cricketer in India, exploded against New Zealand and made another huge step toward being the best T20 hitter of the present generation. Suryakumar, who had notched his first T20I century in five months, surpassed his manic performance against England at Trent Bridge in June by scoring 111 not out off 51 balls. Suryakumar’s performance helped India defeat England by 65 runs at the Bay Oval on Sunday despite Tim Southee’s incredible hat-trick.

There wasn’t much that set this knock apart from the one Suryakumar played in Nottingham, but the result and India’s outcome make it unique. Many outstanding innings in the past have been mostly forgotten in history books because the batsman was unable to get his side home. However, when India reached 191/6 at Mount Maunganui, Surya grabbed the New Zealand bowling by the scruff of its neck and stomped on it. Not only did SKY bulldoze his way to T20 craziness, but he also took his team home like a furious bull, giving India a 1-0 series lead after Wellington’s washout.

And all of this while receiving a promotion in batting. When Suryakumar caught his fourth delivery for a boundary after walking out before Shreyas Iyer, the game continued till the very finish. The opening of the India innings by Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant was a flashback to the Under-19 World Cup in 2016 when the two young players began the innings. However, it turned out to be little more than a sentimental gesture as Pant’s shaky stay ended at 6 off 13 balls.

It came from Surya, who at first took second place behind Ishan, who seemed confident about his 31-ball 36. Ishan almost knocked Suryakumar to the ground at the non-as striker’s the two added 39 runs before their partnership ended. Ishan mishandled a cut to Southee at short third man, allowing the leg-spinner to be rewarded with some disciplined bowling during the Powerplay after he successfully appealed an LBW ruling against him off the bowling of Ish Sodhi.