Suryakumar Yadav Owns Up to Poor Form Ahead of T20 World Cup

India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav delivered a candid self-assessment after his team's 30-run victory over South Africa in the fifth and final match on Friday, admitting that "Surya the batter" has gone missing amid a prolonged lean patch. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Suryakumar Yadav scored just 5 runs in the decisive game at Narendra Modi Stadium, extending his drought without a T20I fifty to 22 innings. Despite the personal struggle, he expressed satisfaction with India's aggressive brand of cricket that sealed a 3-1 series win.

Suryakumar Yadav remarked, "The only thing is we couldn't find Surya the batter; I think he's missing somewhere. But he'll come back strong." He emphasised the team's intent-laden approach, noting that the relentless batting style displayed in the final match had been absent in previous games but was crucial for their success. India's total of 231/5 was powered by Tilak Varma's 73 and Hardik Pandya's explosive 63 off 25 balls.

Throughout 2025, Suryakumar Yadav has endured his worst calendar year in T20Is, accumulating around 218 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.62 and a strike rate of 123.16, with no half-centuries. This marks a sharp decline for the once No. 1-ranked T20I batter, whose struggles have raised concerns ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Analysts have pointed to technical issues against pace as a contributing factor.

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As captain, Suryakumar Yadav praised the collective effort, highlighting tactical decisions like deploying Jasprit Bumrah strategically across overs. He also commended the team's resilience, stating that the brand of cricket they aimed for was evident in the series-clinching performance.

With the series victory marking India's eighth consecutive bilateral T20I triumph, attention now shifts to Suryakumar Yadav's form revival. Upcoming matches against New Zealand in January 2026 offer opportunities to regain confidence before the World Cup.

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