Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav delivered a much-needed performance in the first T20I against New Zealand at Nagpur, scoring 32 runs off 22 balls to help India secure a commanding 48-run victory. This knock comes as a significant relief for Yadav, who endured a challenging 2025 season with only 218 runs in 19 T20I innings at an average of 13.62 and a strike rate of 123.16.
Ashwin's 'Monkey Off the Back' Comment on Yadav's Innings
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Yadav's innings, describing it as a 'monkey off the back' moment for the captain. Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ashwin emphasized that while consistency in T20Is is not always essential, Yadav's return to form is a positive sign for the team.
'Actually, it’s monkey off the back. Many people were talking about Suryakumar Yadav’s batting and form. In all honesty, you don’t have to aim for consistency in T20Is. About Surya, I liked one thing today, he got his form, he got those runs, he looked in good touch,' Ashwin remarked.
Yadav's Partnership with Abhishek Sharma
After early wickets of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, Yadav stitched a crucial 99-run partnership with Abhishek Sharma for the third wicket. While Sharma blazed away with 60 runs off 25 balls at a strike rate of 240, Yadav played a supportive role, scoring his 32 runs at a strike rate of 145.45. Ashwin praised Yadav's fearless approach and his ability to go for big shots, highlighting it as a key factor in India's aggressive batting display.
Milestone Achievement and World Cup Prospects
During the match, Yadav crossed 9,000 runs in T20 cricket, becoming the fourth Indian after Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shikhar Dhawan to achieve this feat. Ashwin believes this innings will boost Yadav's confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup, especially with matches set to be played in India.
'Because the theme of this T20 is we will keep hitting, we will not step back. We would like to score 30-40 more runs. And especially where these World Cup matches will be held in India, those grounds are not very big. So I have this 100 percent feeling that this Indian team will really set the cat amongst the pigeons in some of the games,' Ashwin added.
Rinku Singh's Impact as a Finisher
The match also saw Rinku Singh play a vital knock of 44 runs off 20 balls, his first 40-plus score since October 2024. Ashwin highlighted Singh's role as a finisher, noting his ability to handle pressure and accelerate the scoring in the death overs.
'Rinku Singh had a break. In T20, he did not get picked for the last World Cup. But he was very close. He batted very well. He had done the role of a finisher very well. Obviously, you won’t get much success when you play the role of a finisher. Sometimes, you will have ups and downs. He does everything for the team. Gives his life for the team,' Ashwin said.
Team's Aggressive Approach
Ashwin commended the team's overall aggressive batting, with contributions from Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma. He emphasized that players like Rinku Singh are essential in the middle order to maintain momentum and finish innings strongly.
'The way Abhishek batted, Hardik batted, for that Rinku Singh is needed in the middle. Who will be able to handle the pressure and can even hit the ball later. The way he hit, giving the last over to Daryl Mitchell against someone like Rinku Singh is throwing him to the wolves,' Ashwin concluded.
This victory not only marks a strong start to the T20I series against New Zealand but also provides a confidence boost for key players like Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh as India prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
