IPL 2023: Suryakumar Yadav relishes most prolific season with bat for Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians' IPL 2023 campaign ended in heartbreak after the five-time champions were knocked out of the competition by defending champions Gujarat Titans. Although the Mumbai-based franchise failed to make it to the final, middle-order dasher Suryakumar Yadav, who nearly pulled off a spectacular chase against GT, enjoyed his most prolific season with the bat this year.

Chasing a record-setting total at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar Yadav launched a scathing assault on the GT bowlers, threatening to scale the daunting target all by himself. However, it wasn't to be, as his departure sealed the fate of the Men in Blue and Gold. During his dazzling innings, the Mumbai batter breached the 600-run mark in this year's competition, his best numbers in an IPL season to date.

The T20 batting sensation ended the season with 605 runs to his name, his best in terms of runs, in 16 matches. His previous best campaign came in the 2018 edition of the tournament when he celebrated his return to Mumbai Indians by amassing 512 runs in 14 matches. Notably, his tally of 605 runs in only bested by batting great and former Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 618 runs in 2010, the most by a Mumbai batter in a single edition of IPL.

Suryakumar Yadav rediscovered his form after a forgetful couple of months with the national team

SKY also joined an illustrious list of Mumbai batters when he breached the 100-run mark against Gujarat Titans earlier in the season to register his maiden IPL century. His runs came at an average of 43.21 with a strike rate of 181.13, the highest among batters with more the 450 runs this season. However, Mumbai won't be adding to their tally of five trophies, the most in IPL Winners List by a franchise. 

The 32-year-old batter came into this year's tournament after a forgetful couple of months in international cricket where he set an unwanted record by registering a hat-trick of golden ducks. But the innovative batter rediscovered his golden touch in the 16th edition of the tournament, driving Mumbai Indians to a fourth-placed finish during the league stage of the competition.