Suryakumar Yadav finally broke his T20I half-century drought, bringing up a much-awaited fifty after more than a year. Offered a bit of width, the India skipper carved the ball crisply through the off-side to reach the landmark in style.

While Suryakumar has already scored four T20I centuries in his career, this fifty carried special significance. The relief was evident; he bent down to touch the turf with his forehead, soaking in the moment, before raising his bat and acknowledging the Raipur crowd.

More than just personal redemption, the knock eased a major concern for India ahead of the T20 World Cup. With their captain rediscovering form at the right time, a significant weight has been lifted off the team’s shoulders.

Coming in with India in trouble at 6 for 2, the skipper played a fluent counter-attacking knock to steady the innings and get the scoreboard moving.

The innings marked Yadav’s first T20I fifty in 24 innings, bringing an end to his wait for the landmark in the format.

Also Read: Ishan Kishan rewrites record books with 21-ball half-century