In a thrilling encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, Suryakumar Yadav etched his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming the fifth Indian to surpass 8,000 runs in T20 cricket. His milestone came during Mumbai Indians’ emphatic 8-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024 season. Suryakumar’s unbeaten knock of 27 runs off just 9 balls, which included three fours and two sixes, propelled Mumbai Indians to their first win of the season with a strike rate of 300. His final six not only sealed the victory but also marked his entry into an elite club of Indian cricketers.
The list of Indian batters with over 8,000 T20 runs is led by Virat Kohli with a staggering 12,976 runs, followed by Rohit Sharma with 11,851 runs. Shikhar Dhawan holds the third position with 9,797 runs, while Suresh Raina occupies the fourth spot with 8,654 runs. Suryakumar’s achievement adds another illustrious name to this prestigious list.
The victory at Wankhede Stadium was Mumbai Indians’ 24th win against Kolkata Knight Riders, setting a record for the most wins against a single opponent in IPL history. It was also their 10th victory against KKR at Wankhede, establishing another record for the most wins against an opponent at a specific venue. The match, anticipated to be a high-scoring affair due to the batting-friendly conditions at Wankhede, saw KKR being restricted to a modest total of 116 runs.
The collapse of KKR’s innings was largely due to the impressive debut of Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old left-arm fast bowler. Kumar made a memorable IPL debut by claiming four wickets for just 24 runs, setting the stage for Mumbai Indians’ dominant performance. His spell was crucial in dismantling KKR’s batting lineup and paving the way for Mumbai’s chase.
In the chase, Ryan Rickelton played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 62 to guide Mumbai Indians to their first win of the season. His innings, combined with Suryakumar’s explosive knock, ensured that Mumbai Indians ended their two-match losing streak in the tournament. The victory not only boosted Mumbai’s morale but also highlighted the depth and talent within their squad.