Ishan Kishan breaks Suryakumar Yadav’s record with historic T20I spree to join elite 2000-run club
Ishan Kishan (Image credit: BCCI) NEW DELHI: Ishan Kishan continued his remarkable run in T20I cricket, rewriting the Indian record books with an impressive half-century in the fifth and final match against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday. The left-handed batsman broke Suryakumar Yadav’s record for most runs by an Indian in a calendar year in T20Is while also completing 2000 runs in the format.Kishan brought up the landmark with an aggressive 61 off just 32 balls, laced with five sixes and as many fours. He now has 1,220 runs in 37 matches and innings in 2026, surpassing Suryakumar’s previous record of 1,164 runs which he amassed in 2022.Kishan has been in excellent form throughout the year, averaging 35.88 at a strike rate of 171.58. His record includes a century and eight half-centuries, underlining his consistency and attacking approach in the shortest format.The 28-year-old also became the seventh Indian to cross 2000 runs in T20Is, reaching the milestone in his 69th innings. He is the third fastest Indian to achieve this feat in terms of number of balls, getting there in just 1,345 deliveries.Only Abhishek Sharma (1,024 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (1,164 balls) have reached 2,000 T20I runs faster in terms of deliveries among Indian batters.Fewest balls to 2000 runs T20I (India)
- 1024 – Abhishek Sharma
- 1164 – Suryakumar Yadav
- 1345 – Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan breaks Suryakumar Yadav’s record
Suryakumar set the benchmark in 2022 with 1,164 runs in 31 matches at an average of 46.56 and a strike rate of 187.43. Kishan surpassed this mark with his last innings to reach 1,220 runs in 2026.His prolific year was also boosted by his contribution to India’s victorious campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he scored 317 runs. The wicketkeeper-batsman has carried that form into bilateral assignments and established himself as one of India’s most prolific performers in the format.Kishan’s 2000-run milestone also places him in the elite group of Indian T20I batsmen. He scored 2016 runs in 69 matches, including 206 fours and 96 sixes.In terms of innings to reach 2000 runs, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar lead the Indian list with the feat in 56 innings each. KL Rahul reached the landmark in 58 innings while Abhishek Sharma got 64. Kishan completed it in his 69th innings to take the fifth spot on this list.
Kishan, Shreyas Iyer rescue India after early setbacks
Kishan’s record knock came at a crucial stage after India suffered an early collapse. Asked to bat first as New Zealand won the toss, the visitors struck early, Adam Milne dismissing Abhishek Sharma in the second over.Arriving at number three, Kishan responded with an attacking approach, joining Shreyas Iyer in rebuilding the innings. The pair added 107 runs for the third wicket in just over seven overs, giving India momentum after early setbacks.Kishan initially took time to settle before shifting gears while Iyer was aggressive from the start. The Indian batter hit four sixes and three fours in his 50 off 23 deliveries and made another valuable contribution in the middle order.Kishan brought up his half-century from 28 balls with Michael Bracewell for six. Iyer soon followed and reached his fifty in 22 deliveries.However, New Zealand fought back by removing both set batsmen in quick succession. Blair Tickner dismissed Kishan who was caught at deep mid-wicket before Iyer fell to Adam Milne.Naman Dhir added 33 off 23 balls while Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed 22 off 17 deliveries as India finished on 191/8.India have secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series heading into the final encounter.
- India’s leading T20I runs: Rohit Sharma leads the overall charts with 4,231 runs, followed by Virat Kohli (4,188) and Suryakumar Yadav (3,272). Among active Indian batsmen, Suryakumar remains ahead, with Hardik Pandya (2,288), Abhishek Sharma (2,268) and KL Rahul (2,265) also crossing the 2,000-run mark.
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