Suryakumar Yadav’s Highest IPL Scores: SKY’s Best IPL Knocks

Suryakumar Yadav has become one of the most dangerous middle-order batters in Indian Premier League history. Better known as SKY, the Mumbai Indians star has built his reputation through fearless strokeplay, rapid scoring in the middle overs and an ability to hit quality bowling into areas that often appear impossible to defend.

Suryakumar’s IPL journey did not immediately turn him into a superstar. He spent part of his early career with Kolkata Knight Riders, where he usually batted lower down the order. His career changed after he returned to Mumbai Indians and received a regular role near the top of the batting order. From 2018 onward, he developed into one of MI’s most reliable run-scorers and eventually became the franchise’s premier middle-order attacking batter. Mumbai Indians noted that he scored 512 runs in his first full season back with the franchise in 2018.

His most productive campaigns have combined volume with an exceptional scoring rate. In 2025, SKY scored 717 runs in 16 matches and became the first non-opening batter to cross 700 runs in a single IPL season. He also set a Mumbai Indians record for runs in one IPL campaign.

However, SKY’s IPL legacy is best understood through his biggest individual innings. His two IPL hundreds, explosive 83 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, memorable 82 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and pressure-filled unbeaten 79 against RCB all show different sides of his batting.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Highest IPL Scores

Here are Suryakumar Yadav’s highest individual scores in the IPL.

The list highlights SKY’s development from a technically strong top-order batter into a destructive 360-degree T20 specialist. His first IPL century arrived only in 2023, but several of his earlier knocks had already established him as a crucial part of the Mumbai Indians batting unit.

SKY’s Top Five Highest IPL Innings

1. 103* vs Gujarat Titans – 2023

Suryakumar Yadav T20I scores.

Playing at the Wankhede Stadium, SKY produced a breathtaking 49-ball hundred and finished with 103 not out. His innings included 11 fours and six sixes as Mumbai Indians reached 218/5. Mumbai Indians described it as his first IPL century and one of the defining performances of his career.

The innings showed almost every part of SKY’s batting range. Gujarat tried pace, slower balls, wide yorkers and spin, but he constantly adjusted his position and found new scoring areas.

He was particularly destructive late in the innings. Once he settled, boundaries came through cover, behind square, over fine leg and straight down the ground. His ability to convert relatively good deliveries into boundary balls made it extremely difficult for Gujarat to control the final overs.

Mumbai won the match, and the century represented an important personal milestone for a batter who had already dominated international T20 cricket but had been waiting for his first IPL hundred.

The 103* remains the highest score of his IPL career.

2. 102* vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – 2024

SKY’s second IPL century came against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium in 2024.

Mumbai Indians were chasing 174 and quickly ran into trouble. The top order lost early wickets, leaving SKY with the responsibility of rebuilding the innings while still keeping the required rate under control.

He responded with an unbeaten 102 from 51 balls, striking 12 fours and six sixes at a strike rate of exactly 200. His innings turned a difficult chase into a comfortable victory.

This hundred was different from his first.

Against Gujarat, SKY had attacked while Mumbai were setting a large total. Against Hyderabad, he had to manage a chase after early wickets. He initially respected the match situation, built a partnership and then increased the scoring rate once Mumbai had regained control.

His shot selection became increasingly adventurous as the innings progressed. Pace outside off disappeared through point and cover, while shorter deliveries were pulled or ramped into the leg side.

The innings strengthened SKY’s reputation as more than simply a high-risk attacking player. He showed he could assess pressure, rebuild and still finish a chase at an extraordinary rate.

3. 83 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 2023

One of Suryakumar Yadav’s most explosive IPL innings came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023.

RCB had scored 199/6, meaning Mumbai Indians needed exactly 200 to win at the Wankhede Stadium. The required rate was demanding, but SKY completely changed the chase with 83 from only 35 balls.

He struck seven fours and six sixes and helped Mumbai reach the target with 21 balls remaining.

The most impressive part of the innings was the speed of his acceleration.

RCB had several experienced bowling options, but conventional field placements offered little protection. SKY used his feet against spin, moved across his stumps against pace and repeatedly created scoring shots behind square.

He also formed a crucial partnership with Nehal Wadhera. Instead of allowing the required rate to build, SKY attacked almost continuously and effectively removed pressure from the chase.

His 83 was his highest IPL score at the time. Only three days later, he surpassed it with his maiden century against Gujarat Titans.

4. 82 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – 2021

Suryakumar Yadav’s 82 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2021 came in unusual circumstances.

Mumbai Indians entered the match needing an enormous victory to maintain a mathematical chance of qualifying for the playoffs. That meant they had little choice but to attack from the beginning.

Ishan Kishan started the assault with 84 from 32 balls, and SKY continued the aggression after coming in lower than his usual No. 3 position.

He smashed 82 from 40 balls as Mumbai reached 235/9, which was then their highest IPL total.

SKY attacked almost every part of the ground. He repeatedly found the boundary behind point and through the off side, while also punishing deliveries that drifted into his pads.

The innings was particularly valuable because Mumbai continued losing wickets around him. Rather than slowing down, SKY kept attacking because net run rate made every extra run important.

Mumbai won by 42 runs, although the margin was not enough to take them into the playoffs. Even so, SKY’s 82 remains one of his most aggressive IPL innings.

5. 79* vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 2020

SKY’s unbeaten 79 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2020 remains one of the most memorable innings of his IPL career.

Mumbai were chasing 165 in Abu Dhabi. SKY came in at No. 3 and controlled the chase with a composed but aggressive 79 not out from 43 balls.

He stayed until the end and guided Mumbai to a five-wicket victory. He was also named Player of the Match.

The innings became particularly memorable because it arrived shortly after SKY had missed out on selection for India’s tour of Australia. Rather than allowing the disappointment to affect his IPL form, he responded with one of the strongest performances of his season.

He later called the 79* his favourite innings of the 2020 campaign.

SKY attacked Yuzvendra Chahal with confidence and also played an outstanding back-foot punch against Dale Steyn. The innings showed his ability to combine conventional strokeplay with the innovative shots that would later become his trademark.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Famous IPL Hundreds

Suryakumar Yadav has scored two IPL centuries, and both have come for Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.

The 103* against Gujarat Titans was his breakthrough IPL hundred. He reached three figures while helping Mumbai post a commanding first-innings total.

His 102* against Sunrisers Hyderabad showed another side of his game. Mumbai had lost early wickets while chasing, so SKY first had to stabilize the innings before taking control.

Both centuries were unbeaten and both came at strike rates of 200 or higher.

Interestingly, SKY’s IPL career had already included numerous significant innings before he reached his first century. Scores such as 79*, 79, 82 and 83 had made him a major IPL batter long before the hundreds arrived.

Other Memorable SKY IPL Knocks

SKY’s second 79 of the 2020 season came against Rajasthan Royals. He scored 79 from 47 balls while helping Mumbai build a strong first-innings total. He later identified that performance as another innings he particularly enjoyed during the season.

His unbeaten 73 against Delhi Capitals in 2025 was important for completely different reasons. Mumbai were under pressure on a difficult batting surface, but SKY stayed until the end and scored 73 from 43 balls. Mumbai eventually reached 180/5 and won by 59 runs, securing a playoff place.

The 72 against Rajasthan Royals in 2018 came during the season in which SKY established himself as a frontline Mumbai Indians batter. He scored 72 from 47 balls with six fours and three sixes.

His unbeaten 71 against Chennai Super Kings in the 2019 Qualifier was arguably even more important. Chasing 132 on a difficult Chepauk pitch, SKY remained unbeaten and guided Mumbai into the IPL final with nine balls remaining.

Another memorable rescue innings came against RCB in 2022. Mumbai collapsed to 79/6, but SKY counterattacked and finished unbeaten on 68 from 37 balls, lifting MI to 151/6.

SKY’s 360-Degree Batting in the IPL

Suryakumar Yadav is one of the strongest examples of a modern 360-degree batter.

His scoring range makes conventional bowling plans difficult to execute. A delivery that appears safe against another batter can become a boundary opportunity against SKY because he can manipulate both his body position and the angle of his bat.

One of his trademark strokes is the scoop or ”supla” shot over fine leg. He can move across his stumps, get underneath a fast delivery and send it over the leg-side boundary even when the bowler targets a hard length.

He is equally dangerous outside off stump.

SKY can open the face against pace, cut behind point, drive over extra cover or create enough room to lift spinners inside-out. When bowlers adjust by attacking his body, he can use his wrists to access fine leg and deep square leg.

That ability is especially valuable during the middle overs.

Many IPL teams use their strongest spinners between overs seven and fifteen to slow scoring. SKY frequently attacks during exactly that phase. His sweep variations, footwork and inside-out shots force captains to spread the field, which then creates easier singles and twos.

Mumbai Indians have described his batting as a complete 360-degree package, highlighting his ability to anchor, accelerate and attack at the death.

Impact of SKY’s IPL Batting for Mumbai Indians

Suryakumar Yadav’s importance to Mumbai Indians cannot be measured only through individual hundreds.

Since returning to MI in 2018, he has filled several roles. He has opened the batting, played at No. 3, operated in the middle order and finished innings. That flexibility has allowed Mumbai to build different combinations around him.

He scored 512 runs in 2018 and quickly established himself as one of the franchise’s most dependable batters. He later contributed to Mumbai’s title-winning campaigns in 2019 and 2020.

The 2019 Qualifier against Chennai illustrated his value in difficult conditions. Rather than relying purely on attacking shots, SKY adjusted to a spin-friendly pitch and guided MI into the final with an unbeaten 71.

By 2023 and 2024, his role had evolved further. He became capable of producing match-winning hundreds while maintaining an extremely high scoring rate.

His 2025 season provided perhaps the clearest example of his consistency. SKY scored 717 runs in 16 matches at an average above 65 and a strike rate close to 168. He also scored at least 25 runs in every match he played that season.

That consistency was unusual for a batter operating outside the opening positions. Mumbai Indians confirmed that he became the first non-opener to score more than 700 runs in a single IPL season.

SKY has therefore become much more than an entertainer for Mumbai Indians. He can rescue an innings, dominate a chase, destroy spin during the middle overs or finish a strong total with a late acceleration.

His highest IPL scores reflect those different responsibilities. The 103* showed his ability to dominate while batting first, the 102* demonstrated control in a chase, the 83 displayed pure acceleration, and innings such as 79* and 71* showed his ability to handle pressure.

FAQs

What is Suryakumar Yadav’s highest score in the IPL?

Suryakumar Yadav’s highest IPL score is 103 not out against Gujarat Titans in 2023. He scored the runs from 49 balls and hit 11 fours and six sixes.

How many IPL centuries has Suryakumar Yadav scored?

Suryakumar Yadav has scored two IPL centuries. He made 103* against Gujarat Titans in 2023 and 102* against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2024.

What is SKY’s highest IPL score against RCB?

His highest IPL score against Royal Challengers Bengaluru is 83 from 35 balls in 2023. Mumbai Indians chased 200 and won with 21 balls remaining.

What was Suryakumar Yadav’s best IPL season?

His highest run aggregate came in 2025, when he scored 717 runs in 16 matches for Mumbai Indians. He became the first non-opening batter to score more than 700 runs in an IPL season.

Why is Suryakumar Yadav called a 360-degree IPL batter?

SKY can score around almost every part of the field. He uses ramps, scoops, sweeps, cuts, inside-out drives and wristy leg-side shots to make conventional bowling plans difficult.

Which teams has Suryakumar Yadav represented in the IPL?

Suryakumar Yadav has represented Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders during his IPL career. His biggest batting achievements have come with Mumbai Indians.