For the second time in his career, Suryakumar Yadav achieved a 600-run season in the Indian Premier League (IPL). 2023 was the previous season, when the Mumbai Indians had qualified for the playoffs, getting into Qualifier 2. Two years later, while MI qualified for the knockouts again, Suryakumar was among the best in the run-scoring charts as he produced a career-defining season, where he went ahead of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Record-Breaking Performance Against Punjab Kings by Suryakumar Yadav
The India T20I skipper did so in Mumbai’s last league match against Punjab Kings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. In compiling his half-century, his fifth of the season, Suryakumar had the most successful season by a Mumbai Indians batsman. Suryakumar broke Sachin’s 15-year-old record to be the highest individual run-scorer in an IPL season. The erstwhile MI captain had scored 618 runs in the 2010 season, peppered with five fifties.
Suryakumar Yadav Surpassing Career Milestones
Suryakumar now has 640 runs in 14 games this season, at a strike rate of 168.54. It is also his best-ever performance in an IPL season, surpassing his 2023 performance of 605 runs in 16 matches. With Mumbai qualifying for the playoffs, Suryakumar will get the opportunity to become the first Mumbai batter to cross the 700-run barrier in an IPL season. He will thus become the third Indian batter to the milestone after Virat Kohli (2016, 2024) and Shubman Gill (2023).
Four teams have already made it to this season’s playoffs Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, MI, and PBKS and the last two league games will determine the final positions.
Punjab Kings’ Challenging Position
With 17 points, Punjab are in second place, but a loss to Mumbai might send them to third or even fourth, which may land them the Eliminator on May 30.
Finishing in the second two appears to be more challenging for Shreyas Iyer’s side as not only do they require a win over a strong Mumbai, but also expect GT (18 points) and RCB (17 points) to lose their respective last matches. Therefore, PBKS, who lost their last match against Delhi Capitals, are in a do-or-die scenario against MI in their quest for finishing in the top two. For MI, their better Net Run Rate amongst all four qualifying teams will be helpful if they defeat Punjab Kings and GT and RCB lose their matches.
