Former Indian cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin has come out strongly in support of T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who’s been facing a tough time with the bat this year. As India gears up for the high-stakes Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, Ashwin urges fans not to pile on the pressure. He believes T20 cricket thrives on big impacts, not just batting averages.
Suryakumar, often called India’s "Mr. 360" for his innovative shot-making, hasn’t been at his explosive best in T20Is lately—especially since taking over as captain last year. In the ongoing Asia Cup, he’s managed just 71 runs across five matches, averaging 23.66 with a strike rate of 107.57. His top score? An unbeaten 47 in a group game.
The numbers get even tougher when you look at his captaincy stint. This year alone, he’s scored 99 runs in 10 innings at a low average of 12.37 and a strike rate of 110. Overall since leading the side, it’s 329 runs in 19 innings, averaging 19.35 with a strike rate above 145—but only two fifties to show for it. Bowlers seem to have figured out ways to keep the once-unstoppable right-hander in check, and his T20I batting average has dipped from 43.33 before captaincy to 37.59 now.
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin defended Suryakumar with passion. "People talk about his average dropping after becoming captain, but that’s sparked a fresh style of play," he said. Ashwin doesn’t want Suryakumar chasing a 40 average in T20s. Instead, he praises the high-risk approach, comparing it to Rohit Sharma’s aggressive mindset. "Surya’s stepping up at different positions, not just No. 3, and committing to bold shots. I’d take a 25 average with a 170 strike rate any day over 40 at a slower pace. Don’t hound him—let him play for impact, not averages."
Adding to the challenge, Suryakumar has struggled against Pakistan in T20Is, scoring 111 runs in seven innings at an average of 18.50 and a strike rate of 118.08. That unbeaten 47 in the group stage was his first time crossing 20 against the arch-rivals.
All eyes will be on Suryakumar to lead India to glory in the Asia Cup final. Here’s a look at the squads:
India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube.
Pakistan Squad: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman Mirza, Hasan Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem.
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