DUBAI: Suryakumar Yadav, a dynamic middle-order batsman for India, has been identified by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as one of five players who it believes will stand out during the T20 World Cup in Australia, which begins on October 16.

Suryakumar, a 32-year-old right-handed batter, has emerged as possibly the most important member of Rohit Sharma's team for the championship match Down Under this year, and he has been a revelation for India.

Yadav had a miserable T20 World Cup in the UAE last year, making just four appearances and managing 42 runs from his three innings. However, this year, he has turned things around, and according to the most recent ICC rankings, he is now the No. 2 T20I batsman in the world.

He has set a new record for India in T20I runs scored in a calendar year with his succession of excellent performances in 2022. Suryakumar scored another undisturbed half-century (50 off 33 balls) as India thrashed South Africa by eight wickets with 20 balls remaining in the first T20I match in Thiruvananthapuram on September 28.

Suryakumar outperformed Shikhar Dhawan, who had 689 runs in 2018, with 732 runs, an average of 40.66, and a strike rate of 180.29 this year.

The ICC also named Australian opener David Warner, Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, England captain Jos Buttler, and Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan as their other five contenders for the T20 World Cup spotlight.

In Warner's case, the only other captain of Pakistan, Babar Azam, has scored more runs than the Australian during the UAE-hosted 2021 World Cup. Warner may win the event because of the advantage of playing on his home field. At the previous competition, the batting stalwart scored three half-centuries, and his 289 runs at a strike rate of over 150 were among the best among the top players.

Wanindu Hasaranga has demonstrated the capacity to save his finest work for the biggest stages, and he might help Sri Lanka win in Australia. Hasaranga finished the 2021 tournament with the most wickets (16), and he recently wrapped up Sri Lanka's successful Asia Cup campaign by being named the competition's Player of the Year.

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