Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has thrown his weight behind India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, explaining how the star cricketer can return to the fearless type that when made him some of the damaging batters in world cricket. With the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 set to start on February 7, Ponting believes Suryakumar’s expertise and self-belief might be essential for India’s marketing campaign.
A shocking stoop for Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is
Suryakumar’s dip in kind through the 2025 T20I season raised eyebrows throughout the cricketing fraternity. Recognized for his modern stroke play and skill to dominate bowlers in all phases of an innings, the Indian skipper endured an unusually lean run. Throughout 19 T20I innings in 2025, he scored solely 218 runs at a median of 13.62, with a strike price of 123.16. Notably, he did not register a single half-century, together with his highest rating being an unbeaten 47.
Ponting admitted that the numbers had been sudden for a participant of Suryakumar’s calibre. The previous Australian nice highlighted that consistency had lengthy been one of many Indian batter’s largest strengths, making his latest struggles much more shocking.
“That’s as large a shock for me, simply his latest kind. He’s been such a strong and constant contributor for India in T20 cricket for a very long time and simply hasn’t been capable of finding it of late. He’s an fascinating one as a result of after I’ve seen him play his greatest, he’s taken six or eight or 10 balls to get going after which simply lets all of it go,” Ponting advised ICC.
Ponting explains how Suryakumar can regain his kind
Ponting confused that the important thing to Suryakumar’s revival lies in mindset quite than approach. Based on Ponting, when Suryakumar is at his greatest, he permits himself a short settling-in interval earlier than unleashing his full vary of pictures with out worry of dismissal. The Tasmanian drew parallels with Travis Head, noting that each gamers thrive after they concentrate on scoring freely as an alternative of worrying about getting out. He suggested Suryakumar to consider run-making, belief his instincts, and again the strategies which have already confirmed profitable on the highest stage.
“He performs all of his pictures and backs himself and a bit like Travis Head the place it virtually appears like they don’t ever worry getting out. That’s what I’d say to him. I’d be saying, take into consideration scoring runs, don’t take into consideration getting out. Belief your self, again your self. You’re confirmed to be nearly as good as anyone on the earth within the T20 format and go and show it to everyone as soon as once more,” added Ponting.
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Stark distinction between worldwide and IPL kind for Surya
What has puzzled consultants and followers alike is the sharp distinction between Suryakumar’s worldwide struggles and his dominant performances in franchise cricket. Throughout the IPL 2025 season, he was in sensational contact for Mumbai Indians, ending because the franchise’s main run-scorer with 717 runs. He averaged an astonishing 65.18 and struck at 167.91, often dismantling bowling assaults with ease. This disparity means that the problem will not be a decline in ability however maybe the added stress of management and expectations on the worldwide stage.
As India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar’s kind carries added significance. His performances on the upcoming World Cup might be intently scrutinized, not just for their affect on India’s outcomes but additionally for what they sign about his management underneath stress.
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