What next for Suryakumar Yadav?

Suryakumar
Suryakumar (PC: BCCI)

What is that one shot which indicates Suryakumar Yadav is in very good form? Perhaps his unique range of strokes behind the wicket. Or could it be something else? What about Suryakumar cracking lofts off the back foot and into the downtown territories? Here, the answer could be a Yes. The lofted stroke probably gives confidence to Suryakumar that his game is more in order.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to be landing enough of that signature shot in the recent past. It could give an inkling that he isn’t exactly in good nick with the willow. There is also a school of thought that he has been troubled by a wrist problem, which might be one of the reasons why he is grappling with down-the-ground hits. Just check his T20I average in the last 15-18 months and it doesn’t make for a good reading either.

Suryakumar averages 26 in 35 T20Is since the start of the England series. And his average of 26 is mainly based on his very good run against New Zealand this year. Even in the just concluded World Cup, leave aside his game-changing innings against the United States of America, one could argue that he wasn’t anywhere near his best.

Despite his no-so-good form with the willow, Suryakumar has been a very good T20I captain. In especially the shortest format, where the bowlers are always coming under pressure, it is imperative that the captain stays as calm as possible. In that respect, the World Cup-winning captain definitely aces the test.

Meanwhile, enough has been written about the Player of the World Cup, Sanju Samson, receiving constant backing from Suryakumar. In an interview with Mathrubhami, Vishwanath, Samson’s father, said: “He (Suryakumar Yadav) has no ego. He acknowledges his teammates and supports them,” Vishwanath said. “He is a real captain. We all know how much Suryakumar Yadav supports Sanju. We should not take that word to that level. There should be a slight difference in the way he speaks. We should see that difference.

“Whatever he said in that press conference was not intentional. No one has backed Sanju as much as Surya and Gambhir. Surya is also like a son to me,” he added.

The crux of the question remains unanswered. Is Suryakumar the right candidate to lead India in the 2028 T20 World Cup and Olympics? Isn’t it right to give Suryakumar a chance to defend the world title? In this context, there is an old adage – First pick the playing XI and then the captain. If the 35-year-old regains his mojo, he should definitely lead the side. Otherwise, a question mark would continue to hover over his role.

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