Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav wasn't always the headline act. For years he ground away on Mumbai's domestic circuit, flashed occasionally in the IPL, and had to wait until 2021, past his 30th birthday, for a T20I debut. His breakthrough came through a fearless, unorthodox method that redefined what is possible in the shortest format. He plays ramps, scoops and flicks off both feet, freeing his hands to reach areas most batsmen treat as locked. It is a style that turns good balls into runs and leaves bowlers scrambling for answers.

Since earning a permanent spot he has been India's most dynamic middle-order presence, winning matches from improbable positions. In T20Is he has piled up runs at a strike rate around 170, spending long spells as the world's top-ranked batter in the format. The scoop over fine leg has become his signature, yet he is equally adept at conventional drives, and he uses his wrists to manipulate the field against spin and pace alike.

He was part of India's 2024 T20 World Cup win, taking the boundary-line catch that ended the final, and took over as full-time T20I captain later that year, leading India to the 2025 Asia Cup title. His influence extends to the dressing room, where younger players copy his intent and shot selection. Whether for Mumbai Indians or on national duty, Suryakumar Yadav in his mid-thirties is proof that a late start can still produce a defining career.