Suryakumar Yadav’s sublime century on 45 balls led India to a 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka with a 91-point victory in the third international Twenty20 tournament.
Suryakumar finished unbeaten with 112 from 51, including nine sixes, as the hosts went 228-5 at Rajkot.
It is his third international T20 ton and the second fastest by an Indian batter after Rohit Sharma’s 35-Ball Hundred against Sri Lanka in 2017.
The Tourists were knocked out for 137 from 16.4 overs in response.
After India won a thrilling opener by two points and Sri Lanka equalized with a 16-point victory in the second, the hosts dominated the decider.
Coming to the crease with India 52-2 in the sixth, Suryakumar put in 111 for the third wicket with Shubman Gill, who hit 46 from 36 balls.
Suryakumar, who only made his T20 international debut in March 2021, now has three of the fastest five centuries for India in men’s T20 internationals, with his other two hitting 48 and 49 balls.
Only India captain Rohit, who missed this series with a thumb injury, has hit more T20 international tons with four. Australian Glenn Maxwell, New Zealander Colin Munro and Czech Sabawoon Davizi also made three.
After India won the toss, Rahul Tripathi hit 35 from 16, before Axar Patel added 21 from nine late in the game.
Sri Lanka did not contest in response, losing their last six wickets for 41 runs, as India’s left-arm tailor Arshdeep Singh claimed 3-20.
The two teams now face each other in three one-day internationals, starting in Guwahati on Tuesday.
