Few players in world cricket have been able to match the innovation and talent of Suryakumar Yadav, better known as SKY. A 360-degree batsman, SKY revolutionized T20 batting with his stroke-making, drawing comparisons to AB devilliers. From his early struggles in domestic cricket to becoming India’s Mr Dependable in T20I. Not only that, he also became a superstar with Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
So let’s take a detailed look at Suryakumar’s inspiring story of perseverance and talent getting a chance.
Born on September 14, 1990 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Suryakumar Yadav was introduced to cricket at a very young age. He trained under his uncle and a local coach before joining the famous Elf Vengsarkar Academy.
His domestic journey started with a bang. While making his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai in 2010, SKY scored a fluent 73 runs, the highest for his team. In addition, he also scored a double century against Odisha and several centuries across formats. His consistent opening runs made him one of Mumbai’s batting mainstays.
Suryakumar also participated in the Duleep Trophy, where he scored his second century in the 2011-12 season to reach the final. Although his form dipped in 2012-13, he came back strongly and re-established himself as one of Mumbai’s most reliable batsmen.
Suryakumar Yadav first made his IPL debut with Mumbai Indians in 2012 and 2013. However, he rarely got opportunities, playing just one game and scoring zero runs. His real IPL experience came after he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014.
While he was a part of KKR’s title-winning team in 2014, SKY never played to his potential. During his four seasons with KKR, he scored just 608 runs in 54 games, rarely getting a chance to bat in the top order.
Everything changed in 2018. Mumbai Indians brought SKY back in the mega auction, and he immediately regained their trust. Promoted to the third position, he scored 512 runs at a strike rate of 133.33, which was his breakthrough season.
Since then, SKY has been a consistent run machine for MI. He played a key role in winning the 2019 and 2020 IPL titles, scoring over 400 runs in each season. His best IPL campaign came in 2023, where he scored 605 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 181.14, showcasing his 360-degree hitting ability.
Suryakumar Yadav’s debut for India came too late, considering his talent. After years of scoring runs in the domestic circuit and IPL, SKY finally made his international debut in a T20I against England in March 2021.
That one shot defined SKY’s fearless approach. He hit consecutive half-centuries in his first few games, cementing his place in India’s T20I squad.
In July 2022, Suryakumar scored his T20I century, scoring 117 runs off 55 balls against England, as India failed to mount a high-scoring comeback. Since then, he has been India’s most successful T20 batsman, winning the ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year award in 2022 and 2023.
In ODIs, SKY has shown flashes of talent but is yet to repeat his T20 dominance. He is a vital part of India’s white ball setup, especially as a T20 match-winner.
Suryakumar Yadav is known for his fearless and innovative batting style. Here are the stats that prove it:
Format |
Mat |
Inns |
NO |
Runs |
HS |
Ave |
BF |
SR |
100s |
50s |
4s |
6s |
Ct |
St |
Tests |
1 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
8.00 |
20 |
40.00 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
ODIs |
37 |
35 |
5 |
773 |
72* |
25.76 |
736 |
105.02 |
0 |
4 |
80 |
19 |
17 |
0 |
T20Is |
86 |
81 |
13 |
2652 |
117 |
39.00 |
1594 |
166.37 |
4 |
21 |
242 |
148 |
51 |
0 |
FC |
86 |
144 |
8 |
5758 |
200 |
42.33 |
8981 |
64.11 |
14 |
30 |
817 |
60 |
109 |
0 |
List A |
144 |
130 |
18 |
3665 |
134* |
32.72 |
3520 |
104.11 |
3 |
21 |
362 |
108 |
78 |
0 |
T20s |
328 |
303 |
60 |
8674 |
117 |
35.69 |
5661 |
153.22 |
6 |
59 |
864 |
382 |
162 |
0 |
Format |
Mat |
Inns |
Balls |
Runs |
Wkts |
BBI |
BBM |
Ave |
Econ |
SR |
4w |
5w |
10w |
Tests |
1 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
ODIs |
37 |
1 |
12 |
17 |
0 |
– |
– |
– |
8.50 |
– |
0 |
0 |
0 |
T20Is |
86 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
2/5 |
2/5 |
2.50 |
5.00 |
3.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
FC |
86 |
50 |
1154 |
550 |
24 |
4/47 |
4/47 |
22.91 |
2.85 |
48.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
List A |
144 |
18 |
442 |
395 |
6 |
2/20 |
2/20 |
65.83 |
5.36 |
73.6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
T20s |
328 |
11 |
138 |
145 |
8 |
2/5 |
2/5 |
18.12 |
6.30 |
17.2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
First Indian to hit a six off the first ball of his T20I career.
Scored 117 off 55 balls against England in 2022, one of the fastest T20I centuries by an Indian.
ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2022 & 2023.
Over 600 runs in IPL 2023, his best season to date.
A career T20I strike rate of over 170, among the best in the world.
Off the field, Suryakumar Yadav is equally popular. He is married to Devisha Shetty, a professional dance coach, whom he met during his college days in Mumbai. The two tied the knot in 2016 and have been one of cricket’s most admired couples ever since. Devisha has been a constant presence in the stands, cheering for SKY during their matches.
Suryakumar also has a reputation for being calm, humble and hardworking. He often credits his family, especially his wife, for supporting him through the ups and downs of his career.
Thanks to his IPL contracts, BCCI central contract, and endorsements, Suryakumar Yadav’s net worth is around INR 40-50 crore as of 2025.
His annual IPL salary from Mumbai Indians is INR 8 crore.
He endorses several major brands, including sportswear, fitness, and lifestyle companies.
SKY is also a social media favorite, with millions of followers on Instagram. There he shares glimpses of his training, travels, and family life.
With over 3000 IPL runs, Suryakumar Yadav is now considered one of the most dangerous batsmen in the league. His consistency and aggressive intent make him a vital player in the Mumbai Indians batting order.
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Suryakumar Yadav made his international cricket debut for India in a T20I match against England in March 2021.
He is popularly called SKY, which is derived from the initials of his name, and it is because of his ability to hit shots on the ground like the sky.
સૂર્યકુમારના લગ્ન દેવીશા શેટ્ટી સાથે થયા છે, જે એક વ્યાવસાયિક નૃત્ય કોચ છે. કોલેજમાં મળ્યા બાદ તેમણે 2016 માં લગ્ન કર્યા.
In the 2023 IPL, the Hits scored 103 runs against the Gujarat Titans, which shows the Hits’ match-winning ability.
Suryakumar Yadav has won the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023).