Suryakumar faces scrutiny over his batting form despite leading India to T20 World Cup triumph.
Suryakumar Yadav’s future as India's T20I captain and his spot in the playing XI heavily depends on head coach Gautam Gambhir, as the national selectors are reportedly unconvinced of his place purely as a batter due to a year-long slump in form.
Earlier this year, Suryakumar led the Men in Blue to their record third T20 World Cup title win but he failed to live up to the expectations with bat in hand.
The dashing right-hander, who couldn’t score a T20I half-century last year, smashed 49-ball 84* in India’s campaign opener against the USA. However, his form faded again as the tournament progressed. He ended the global showpiece with 242 runs in 9 innings at an average of 30.25 and a strike rate of 136.72.
According to a PTI report, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is in favour of moving on from Surya, but the board hierarchy also values the coach-captain equation for the healthy dressing-room environment. Therefore, Gambhir's stated comfort with Suryakumar will make him a key figure in the final call.
"Initially, the selectors thought that the IPL would help Suryakumar regain form like the last edition when he crossed 700 runs. But strangely, there hasn't been any technical course correction in his game.
"Even the rookiest of pacers are just bowling straight hard lengths, and he has no answer. Selectors don't see him playing the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. It is as simple as that," a senior BCCI source told the news agency.
"If someone can't earn his place as a batter, how can he be a leader? Hence, it is difficult to retain him, but Ajit (Agarkar) and Gautam need to be on the same page," the source said.
Gautam Gambhir is known to have the final say in team decisions. With the relationship between him and Suryakumar Yadav remaining exceptionally warm—dating back to their days at the Kolkata Knight Riders—Gambhir has the power to veto the selectors' plans.
Currently, Suryakumar is enduring a difficult IPL 2026 season, scoring only 210 runs in 12 innings at a low average of 17.50 with just one half-century, a sharp decline from his 717-run MVP performance in 2025.
Suryakumar Yadav has represented India in 113 T20Is so far, amassing 3272 runs at an average of 36.35 and a strike rate of 162.94, including four hundreds and 25 fifties.
(With PTI Inputs)