India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has openly acknowledged that his lean patch with the bat has "stretched a bit too far," as questions about his form intensify just ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup. Despite leading the team to consistent success, the star batter's personal numbers have seen a dramatic decline, putting his place under scrutiny.
A Captain's Confession: Numbers Tell a Troubling Story
The statistics reveal a stark picture of Suryakumar's struggle. In the 31 matches he has captained the side, he has managed only 448 runs, with a solitary half-century—a score of 75 that came over a year ago. His strike rate during this leadership tenure has also fallen to 143.13.
The dip has become more pronounced in 2025. The 35-year-old has scored a mere 218 runs in 21 matches this year, without registering a single fifty, and his strike rate has plummeted to a modest 123.16. Analysts suggest that, had he not been the skipper, he might have faced exclusion from the squad, similar to the fate of Shubman Gill.
The Road to Redemption: Work in Progress
Suryakumar is not hiding from the reality. "I’m sure everyone goes through this phase in their respective careers. I will overcome it as well," he stated confidently. He emphasized that he knows the areas needing correction and has time to work on them before the global tournament. "You will see Surya back," he promised.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has thrown his weight behind the captain, recalling his past dominance. "Over the last few years, he has been the No. 1 T20 batter in the world. So we know what he brings to the table... Hopefully, come the World Cup, he will again be the No. 1 batter," Agarkar said.
Technical Glitch and a Strategic Shift
During this phase, bowlers have found a chink in his armour. Pacers have stopped bowling on a good length or into his body, areas where he excels with his trademark flicks. Instead, they are bowling fuller and wider, denying him access to his favoured leg side. His current batting setup has made it harder to dispatch these deliveries effectively.
To find a solution, Suryakumar is spending long hours in the nets and revisiting videos of his past successes. "I’ve been watching them for three months," he revealed, aiming to rebuild his confidence. In a significant revelation, he confirmed a batting order shift for the World Cup: he will bat at No. 4, with Tilak Varma taking the No. 3 spot.
Once the most feared 360-degree batter in the format, Suryakumar stands just one century away from equalling the record for most T20I hundreds (5), held by Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell. The cricketing world now watches to see if the champion batter can rediscover his mojo on the biggest stage.
