The second game of the three-match T20I series between the hosts India and the visitors South Africa at Guwahati last Sunday (2nd October) night was full of drama. While India won that high-scoring game to secure their first-ever home T20I series with an unassailable 2-0 lead, some crucial records were thrashed and great milestones were achieved in that game.
Trailing the away series by 1-0, South Africa sent the hosts to bat first during the Guwahati T20I. Indian batter completely dominated Proteas bowlers as they managed to score 237/3 in 20 overs.
While Keshav Maharaj was the only successful bowler for the visitors with the bowling figures of 4-0-23-2, Indian openers KL Rahul (57 off 28 balls) and skipper Rohit Sharma (43 off 37 balls) as well as Virat Kohli (49* off 28 balls), Suryakumar Yadav (61 off 22 balls) and Dinesh Karthik (17* off 7 balls) all performed dominantly.
In reply, South Africa lost two early wickets (1/2; Temba Bavuma 0 and Rilee Rossouw 0) before showcasing incredible fighting spirit till the end of the game. While the opener Quinton de Kock scored 69 not out off 48 balls, David Miller was unbeaten on 106 runs off 47 balls. Also, earlier, Aiden Markram’s 33 off 19 balls helped the visitors to fight back in the powerplay after two ducks.
While South Africa scored 221/3 in 20 overs, India have claimed the unassailable 2-0 series lead with that 16-run victory. Though it was India’s third T20I bilateral series win against South Africa, it was their first home T20I bilateral series win against Proteas. Also, it was Men in Blues' first T20I bilateral series win against South Africa consisting of at least two games.
Here we are talking about some crucial records and milestones in that Guwahati T20I.
Rohit Sharma – 400 T20 matches
Rohit Sharma became the 1st Indian to make 400 T20 appearances. He became the second Asian (after Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik) and ninth overall cricketer to play 400 T20 matches.
Virat Kohli – 11000 T20 runs
Virat Kohli (11030 runs) became the first Indian to score 11000 T20 runs. Kohli also became the second Asian and fourth overall batter to reach the 11000 T20 runs milestone. The other three names in this list are Chris Gayle (14562 runs), Kieron Pollard (11915 runs) and Shoaib Malik (11902 runs).
Suryakumar Yadav – 1000 T20I runs
Suryakumar Yadav (1037 runs) completed 1000 T20I runs in 31 T20I innings. He became the third fastest Indian to complete 1000 T20I runs (according to the number of innings). Among the Indians, only Virat Kohli (27 innings) and KL Rahul (29 innings) achieved this milestone faster than Yadav. Overall, Yadav became the joint seventh fastest batter to reach the 1000 T20I runs milestone.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav took 573 balls to complete 1000 T20I runs. It is the fastest to complete 1000 T20I runs (according to the number of balls). Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell was the previous record holder, who achieved that feat in 604 balls.
– 50 T20I sixes in 2022
Suryakumar Yadav became the first batter to hit 50 T20I sixes in a calendar year. The right-handed batter has hit 50 T20I sixes in 2022. In the previous T20I, Yadav broke Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan’s record of most T20I sixes in a calendar year (42 sixes in 2021).
David Miller – 2000 T20I runs
Left-handed batter David Miller (2050 runs) became the first South African cricketer and 20th overall batter to reach the 2000 T20I runs milestone. He took 92 T20I innings to achieve this feat.
