Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles as India’s T20 captain showed no signs of letting up during the Asia Cup Super Fours match against Sri Lanka in Dubai on Friday. The star batter managed just a modest knock before heading back to the pavilion early, leaving fans worried about his form.
Yadav took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma in July 2023, right after India’s thrilling T20 World Cup victory in Barbados. The dynamic right-hander, known for his explosive batting, had been on fire before that. But leading the team seems to have weighed him down, with runs proving hard to come by.
His standout moment as skipper came in October 2023, when he smashed a quick century against Bangladesh. Then, in a domestic game in Hyderabad, he fired 75 off 35 balls, hinting at a strong comeback. Yet, the numbers tell a tougher story. Since becoming captain, the 35-year-old has scored 329 runs in 19 innings across 21 matches, averaging just 19.35 with a strike rate over 145. He’s notched two fifties but has only passed 20 runs six times.
The dip got even steeper in 2024, where he racked up only 99 runs in 10 innings at an average of 12.37 and a strike rate of 110—his best being an unbeaten 47. Before captaincy, Yadav’s batting average sat at a healthy 43.33; now it’s slipped to 37.59.
In this Asia Cup, things haven’t improved much. He’s collected 71 runs in five innings, averaging 23.66 with a strike rate just above 100 and a top score of 47 not out. Fans and former players have called out the slump as a real issue for the Indian cricket team.
On Friday, Yadav looked far from his aggressive best against Sri Lanka. He took his time at the crease but couldn’t find rhythm. Sri Lanka’s spinner Wanindu Hasaranga trapped him LBW with a fuller delivery. Yadav went for a sweep, but the ball beat his bat and hit him plumb in front. He reviewed it, but the decision stood—three reds on the screen sent him back for 12 off 13 balls.
As India pushes forward in the tournament, all eyes stay on Yadav. Can the captain rediscover his T20 magic and lead the team to glory?
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