Skipper Suryakumar Yadav acknowledges form struggles ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

For Suryakumar Yadav, this has been a year of mixed emotions. While he led India to the Asia Cup title, his runs have dried up in T20 cricket, with just 218 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.62. With no half-centuries to his name, Suryakumar’s strike rate, too, has taken a beating, hovering around 123.16.

However, with the selectors continuing to show faith in the skipper, there has been no threat to Suryakumar’s place in India’s T20I side. But then, gearing up to lead India in the T20 World Cup, the seasoned batter accepted that he is going through a lean patch for a while now.

After scores of 12, 5, 12 and 5 against South Africa in the just-concluded five-match series, the upcoming series against New Zealand in January will be Suryakumar’s last opportunity to be back among runs before India’s T20 World Cup defence.

“Ye waala patch thoda lamba ho gaya (this patch has stretched a bit too long),” Suryakumar said with a smile on Saturday. “I’m sure everyone has seen this in their respective careers. I will also go over it sometime. I know what to do, I know where things are going wrong. I’ve got some time to work on it. We have the New Zealand series coming up, and then the important T20 World Cup as well. You’ll definitely see that Surya is back.”

ALSO READ | India squad for T20 World Cup 2026 announced: Gill out, Axar named VC; Ishan, Samson make cut

Ever since taking over as the captain of India’s T20I squad, Suryakumar has seen a dip in form. He struggled against South Africa last year, and even when England toured India earlier this year, Suryakumar scored just 14 runs in five innings. However, in the Asia Cup game against Pakistan, he scored 47 before looking off-colour again.

He hasn’t been able to find his form ever since and by his own admission, Suryakumar is trying is best to be back in the business. He has been watching old videos of his batting for the last three months. “Obviously, you go back to seeing your old videos where you batted really well, and you delivered for India. And you try to carry the same thing. But yeah, I’ve been trying; I’ve been batting beautifully in the nets. The same thing… This is a small hurdle. It’s invisible – I can’t see it – but I’ll overcome it, I’m sure,” he said.

As Suryakumar put forward his point, the chairman of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, looked at him with a smile. “With his (Suryakumar’s) form, look, over the last few years he has been the No. 1 T20 batter in the world,” Agarkar said, adding: “So we know what he brings to the table. He knows what he needs to do. And hopefully, come the World Cup, he is again the No. 1 batter in the world…”