Suryakumar Yadav took the cricketing world by storm with his batting exploits in the shortest format for India last year.

The dashing right-hander played 31 T20I innings last year, amassing 1164 runs at an average of 46.56 and a remarkable strike rate of 187.43, including two hundreds and nine half-centuries. As a result, he also earned the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year honour for 2022.

Suryakumar has carried on his dazzling form in 2023 as well, slamming a whirlwind century in the third T20I against Sri Lanka earlier this month.

The 32-year-old also looked in his elements in the first T20I against New Zealand Ranchi a couple of days back, scoring 47 off 34 balls on a turning track.

Impressed with his exploits, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has hailed Surya as the best T20I batter in the world.

"He's head and shoulders the best T20 batter in the world currently," he said on Star Sports.

Neesham also revealed that his New Zealand teammate Trent Boult, who is widely regarded as one of the best fast bowers in the world, once described Suryakumar the best he has bowled to.

"I look back to two years ago when I joined the Mumbai Indians camp. After the first training, Trent Boult turned towards me and says 'Look at this guy. He's the best batsman I've ever seen'. To make a comment on a team that has Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Kieron Pollard is a big statement. He's gone from strength to strength.”

Neesham was a part of the Kiwi side against whom Suryakumar slammed his second T20I ton in Mount Maunganui last year.

“His innings against us at Mt Maunganui was absolutely fantastic. The best piece of power-hitting I have seen. He's a 360 player. No matter what plan you come up with, he does the opposite. He reminds me a lot of AB de Villiers in his prime," Neesham said.