Suryakumar Yadav celebrated his 36th birthday on September 14, 2026. He grew up in Mumbai, where many young boys dream of playing cricket. But even as a teenager, he was clear about his goal. He told his coach, Ashok Aswalkar, “I want to play really big league cricket.” Aswalkar ran a coaching setup in Chembur. He had seen many talented kids over nearly 30 years. What stood out about Surya was his fearless mindset.
His early days were spent at the BARC ground when he was around 12 or 13 then. Even without a high-quality bat, he could clear the 65-yard boundary with ease. Aswalkar wanted him to play straight, but Surya often followed his own instincts. He improvised as he pleased. That is why his school and age-group records were not huge. He was never a typical Mumbai batting prodigy but a late bloomer. Local newspapers did not write much about him.
Aswalkar calls himself “the other Ashok” in Surya’s story. That is because Surya’s father is also named Ashok. He was a scientist at BARC. While other coaches took the train, Surya’s father would arrange his transport. He would drop him in his car or on a moped. But he never carried Surya’s kitbag. He would say, “That’s his work.” Aswalkar believes this helped.
When Surya began representing Mumbai or training at the MCA Academy, his parents gave him a clear choice. He could train with the MCA coaches or with Ashok sir. For a player as versatile as Surya, he did not need much technical correction. He had his own style.
Surya became vice-captain of KKR and captain of Mumbai within a short time. He got carried away and Aswalkar noticed the change. Even security guards at the BARC colony talked about it. His wife, Devisha, supported him. He began working hard to revive his childhood dream. Aswalkar says, “There is no doubt he got carried away. But how you rise after a fall defines your character. That’s what Surya is all about.”
Suryakumar Yadav Birthday: From Domestic Late Bloomer to T20 World Cup-Winning Captain
Suryakumar Yadav, known as “Mr 360”, has received several major individual honours. He was named the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, recognising him as the best player in the format for two consecutive years. He was also included in the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year for both seasons. In 2025, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the IPL for his performances with the Mumbai Indians. He holds 16 Player of the Match awards in T20 Internationals.
Suryakumar became the first batter in history to score 3,000 T20I runs in fewer than 1,900 balls. His highest score is an unbeaten 117 against England in Nottingham on July 10, 2022. Suryakumar guided India to victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, becoming the third Indian captain to lift the trophy. He scored a crucial 57 off 31 balls in the final and was named Player of the Match. He also captained India to the Asia Cup title in September 2025. In 52 T20Is as captain, he has led India to 40 wins, giving him a win percentage of 80.76.
In the IPL, Suryakumar won the IPL title with MI in 2019 and 2020, and he also won the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014. He became only the second player after Rohit Sharma to score 4,000 runs for Mumbai Indians in T20 cricket, combining IPL and CLT20 matches, achieving the milestone in 2026. In the 2025 IPL season, he scored 717 runs in 16 innings at an average of 65.18 and a strike rate of 167.92. He was also the first uncapped Indian cricketer to score 500 or more runs in an IPL season.
He made his T20I debut for India in March 2021 against England and his ODI debut in July 2021 against Sri Lanka. He played his only Test match in February 2023 against Australia. After the 2025 Asia Cup, he donated his entire match fees of ₹2.8 million to the Indian Army and the families of the Pahalgam attack victims.
FAQs
Q. When was Suryakumar Yadav born?
A. Suryakumar was born on September 14, 1990.
Q. When did Suryakumar make his T20I debut?
A. Suryakumar made his T20I debut in March 2021.
Q. How many T20I centuries has Suryakumar scored?
A. Suryakumar has scored four T20I centuries.
Q. When did Suryakumar first become India’s T20I captain?
A. Suryakumar was first named captain in November 2023.
Q. Which IPL teams has Suryakumar Yadav played for?
A. Suryakumar has played for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.
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