Dubai: Over the past three weeks, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has looked like a thriller protagonist haunted by the fear of being exposed at the crease. His discomfort at the batting wicket has been palpable. The aftermath of his dismissals tells an even deeper story: a wry grin, perhaps a belief that fate is against him, followed by a weary glance towards the sky as he trudges back to the pavilion.
Suryakumar Yadav has struggled for India in the ongoing Asia Cup, scoring just 59 runs from four innings. (Getty Images)
Interestingly, the 35-year-old hasn’t made headlines for his batting heroics in this tournament, but rather for his off-field actions. He caused a stir by controversially opting not to shake hands with the Pakistan players following India’s dominant seven-wicket victory over their arch-rivals in a league match. Suryakumar finished that game with a six, his highest score against Pakistan, yet proceeded directly to the pavilion without exchanging customary greetings.
His playful side also emerged during the toss in a subsequent league match against Oman. Mimicking former T20I captain Rohit Sharma’s forgetfulness, Surya chuckled, “We have two changes – Harshit comes in, one more guy comes in. And oh my god, I have become like Rohit.”
He continued his unusual approach by not coming out to bat and consistently demoting himself, resulting in India finishing 188/8 with Surya slated at No. 11. Post-match, he light-heartedly quipped, “Definitely I’ll try from next game.”
After India’s convincing victory against Pakistan on September 21, he boldly declared that matches against Pakistan could no longer be classified as a true rivalry. India’s second win in the T20 tournament extended their head-to-head record to 11-3, with one tied match. “According to me, if two teams play 15-20 matches and if it is 7-7 or 8-7, then that is called a rivalry,” Suryakumar stated. “But 13-0, 10-1. I don’t know what the stats are. But this is not a rivalry anymore.”
However, the Indian captain seemed to overlook Pakistan’s superior overall record against India across all three formats, where they lead with 88 wins to India’s 79.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav (AP Photo)
Suryakumar Yadav’s Recent Batting Slump:
- Last 9 innings: 87 runs (Average – 12.42; Strike Rate – 112.98)
- Asia Cup: 59 runs (Average – 29.50; Strike Rate – 111.32)
Indeed, Suryakumar Yadav is currently experiencing a perplexing dry spell. His last T20I half-century prior to the series against Sri Lanka was recorded 14 innings ago. He struggled significantly in South Africa and then continued his poor run at home against England.
Across his last nine innings, he has accumulated a mere 87 runs, averaging a dismal 12.42 with a strike rate of 112.98. In the ongoing Asia Cup alone, Surya has only managed 59 runs over four innings.
It’s a perplexing situation for a player who, not long ago, held the coveted No. 1 ranking in T20Is. His recent batting struggles inevitably spark questions about his secure spot in the Indian squad. While India’s flexible middle-order strategy, championed by the captain himself, might offer some temporary respite, Suryakumar has been vocal about his vision.
“I think everyone should be flexible in batting except for the openers. Because we have left-handers, right-handers, power hitters, and some players who can rotate strike well. So it’s very important to be flexible,” he explained after India’s Super Four match against Pakistan.
He further elaborated, “So irrespective of the need of the hour, if someone has scored 50 at No. 3 or 50 at No. 4, and there is a requirement to bat at 5 or 6 in the next game, then the batsmen have accepted that we will bat like that. And this is how the team will run. Because in this format, I feel that if the players impact and score small runs, then it will be a very dangerous team.”
However, this constant shuffling of the middle-order has arguably come at a cost, sidelining India’s best No. 3 batsman. It appeared particularly awkward against Bangladesh when the team opted to shield Sanju Samson, who wasn’t even sent out to bat.
Suryakumar Yadav’s highest score in the current Asia Cup is an unbeaten 47 against Pakistan. (Getty Images)
Despite these individual concerns, India remains a strong contender to win the Asia Cup, largely due to their cohesive and well-oiled team dynamic.
However, for both his personal form and India’s prospects, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon, fans and the team alike will be hoping Suryakumar Yadav rediscovers his touch. India can ill-afford to head into a major tournament with their captain potentially being the weakest link in their formidable lineup.