After a lacklustre run in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Suryakumar Yadav began his India captaincy stint with a bang, leading the home team to a record two-wicket win over Australia in Visakhapatnam, in the first T20I of the five-match series between the two cricketing rivals. (As It Happened | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
The flamboyant right-handed batter Surya top-scored with 80 off just 42 balls as India recorded their biggest-ever run chase in T20Is. Riding on Surya and Ishan Kishan (58 off 39 balls)'s half-centuries, the hosts gunned down a daunting target of 209 with one ball to spare.
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This was the fifth instance of India chasing down a 200-plus target in T20Is. Let's take a look at the other four occasions:
1. 208 Vs West Indies In Hyderabad, 2019
Despite getting a pasting with the ball, India bossed the proceedings with the bat as Virat Kohli scored an inspired 50-ball 94 and KL Rahul ably supported him with a 40-ball 62 to take the home side to a six-wicket win, with eight balls to spare.
2. 207 Vs Sri Lanka In Mohali, 2009
The yesteryear titans were in full force for India in this game. Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh all played slambang knocks, with Yuvraj hitting a fantastic 25-ball 60 that took the hosts over the line with six wickets in hand, and five balls still left.
3. 204 Vs New Zealand In Auckland, 2020
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were at it yet again, joining forces for a 99-run partnership off just 50 balls to put India in the hunt. But it was Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 58 off 29 deliveries that sealed the deal for the visitors. It was another six-wicket win for India with one full over still remaining.
4. 202 Vs Australia In Rajkot, 2013
Yuvraj Singh yet again proved why he was second to none when it comes to his ball-striking abilities. The man gifted with supreme timing and aesthetically pleasing strokeplay struck a 35-ball 77, as India pulled off a tricky chase against the Aussies with six wickets and two balls in the bank.
