The first T20I of the five-match series between India and New Zealand, played in Nagpur on Wednesday is a special match for India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, as it is his 100th T20 International for India. Suryakumar becomes the fourth Indian cricketer to play 100 T20Is, after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya.
Suryakumar made his T20I debut in March 2021 against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad..
Suryakumar played 21 T20Is in 2025 but scored only 218 runs in 19 innings. He did not score a single half-century last year and faced criticism for his poor batting form. Despite this, India won T20I series against England, Australia, and South Africa, and also won the Asia Cup 2025 with a 100% win record under his leadership.
Suryakumar, who is set to lead India in the T20 World Cup 2026 starting on February 7, will be keen to perform well with the bat in the ongoing series against New Zealand and prove his critics wrong. Against New Zealand, he has played 8 T20Is, scoring 284 runs, including one century and one half-century, at an average of 47.33.
WELL PLAYED, SURYAKUMAR YADAV. 👏
– When Surya came to bat India were 27/2 & then he scored 32 runs from 22 balls including 4 fours and 1 six against New Zealand in first T20I Match. pic.twitter.com/i3omkFA6Iq
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) January 21, 2026
Three Other Players who played 100 t20is for India
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has played 159 matches scoring 4231 runs @ average of 32.05 with 5 hundreds and was part of all t20i world cups from 2007 till 2024. Rohit was part of victorious Indian teams in 2007 and captained 2024 when India won the T20 World cup.
Rohit Sharma and ritika bhabhi with Indian paralympic athlete during reliance foundation event.❤️ pic.twitter.com/atYFtWhhgO
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) January 21, 2026
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has played 125 matches scoring 4188 runs at average of 48.69 with 1 hundred and was Man of the tournament in 2014 and 2016 World Cup. He played his last game for India during the ICC T20 world cup 2024 final.
VIRAT KOHLI IN A PHOTOSHOOT. 🐐🔥
– The Evergreen, King Kohli..!!!! pic.twitter.com/76MdY2JwG6
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) January 20, 2026
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya has played 125 matches scoring 2002 runs at average of 28.60 and 101 wickets. He bowled the iconic match changing over when he dismisses David Miller in the t20 world cup 2024 and won the final for India.
Aakash Chopra : “Team India is incomplete without Hardik Pandya. There is only one Hardik in the entire world. What he provides with bat and ball, no one else in India can do,” pic.twitter.com/Rb3k0NmgUW
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) January 21, 2026
Also Read :Team India Is “Incomplete” Without Hardik Pandya, Says Former Indian Cricketer
