Suryakumar Yadav’s batting numbers have fallen drastically ever since assuming India’s T20I captaincy. He managed to score only 218 runs across 21 matches and 19 innings in 2025, averaging just over 13, with the best score of 47* to his credit.
With nearly a month remaining for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Australian legend Ricky Ponting urged struggling Suryakumar to back himself.
“That's as big a surprise for me, just looking at his recent form. He's been such a solid and consistent contributor for India in T20 cricket for a long time and just hasn't been able to find it of late,” Ponting said, as quoted by ICC.
“He's an interesting one because when I've seen him play his best, he's taken six or eight or 10 balls to get going and then just lets it all go.”
The former Australia skipper, however, backed the former No.1-ranked T20I batter to rediscover the fearless brand of cricket he is known for.
“He plays all of his shots and backs himself and a bit like Travis Head where it almost looks like they don't ever fear getting out,” Ponting noted.
“That's what I'd say to him. I'd be saying, think about scoring runs, don't think about getting out.”
“Trust yourself, back yourself. You're proven to be as good as anybody in the world in the T20 format and go and prove it to everybody once again.”
Suryakumar Yadav will next be seen leading India in the five T20Is against New Zealand later this month, which will serve as a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup.
India will enter the global showpiece as defending champions. The Men in Blue will open their campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7.
India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan
