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Suryakumar has scored just 218 runs in 19 innings this year at a paltry average of 13.62 and strike rate of 123.16 with no half-centuries to his name (PTI Photo)
India captain Suryakumar Yadav has asserted that he knows what has been going wrong for him and is confident that he will be back to his best during their upcoming T20I series at home against New Zealand. The series will act as a tune-up for the side ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, in which they play their first match on February 7.
“I am sure everyone has seen this in their respective careers,” Suryakumar told reporters in a press conference in which India revealed their squad for the T20 World Cup. “I know what to do. I know where things are going wrong. I have got some time to work on it. We have the New Zealand series coming up and then the important T20 World Cup. You will definitely see Surya the batter,” he said.
Suryakumar’s form has been on an almost steady downward trend since India won the 2024 T20 World Cup. He had taken over as captain in the format after the tournament and his low scores last year were initially seen as an uncharacteristic but temporary dip after his stellar performance in the 2025 IPL. However, Suryakumar could never replicate that form in international cricket this year.
Suryakumar has scored just 218 runs in 19 innings this year at a paltry average of 13.62 and strike rate of 123.16 with no half-centuries to his name. Contrast that with last year, which was previously seen as a dip for him, in which he scored 429 runs in 17 innings at an average of 26.81 and a strike rate of 151.59 with four half-centuries.
On Friday, Suryakumar’s forgettable 2025 was squared off by him falling after scoring five runs in seven balls. However, his wicket became a distant memory for South Africa as Hardik Pandya replaced him and went berzerk. Pandya ended up scoring his half-century in just 16 balls, the second fastest for an Indian in men’s T20Is and was dismissed on 63 in 25 balls. His 105-run partnership for the fourth wicket off just 44 balls with Tilak Varma propelled India to a score of 231/5 and that assault ended up being the difference for the hosts as South Africa managed to get themselves to a score of 201/8 in reply.
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