Pressure has a strange way of finding even the most fearless cricketers and Suryakumar Yadav is learning that the hard way. India’s T20I captain, known for his daring strokeplay and calm presence, is going through a difficult phase with the bat, and former India batter Mohammed Kaif believes the skipper needs to confront it head-on rather than staying in the background.
Mohammed Kaif’s comments came after India’s third T20I against South Africa in Dharamshala, where Suryakumar Yadav scored just 12 runs from 11 balls while batting at number four during a comfortable chase of 188. The innings did little to silence concerns around his form. In 2025, SKY has managed only 213 runs in T20Is at an average of 14.20 and a strike rate of 125.29. Those numbers make him the only captain from a full-member nation to cross 200 runs in a calendar year with such a low batting average.
According to Mohammed Kaif, the situation called for a bolder decision. With the chase well under control, he felt Suryakumar Yadav should have promoted himself to number three instead of sending Tilak Varma ahead. Kaif stressed that when a player of SKY’s calibre is struggling, one solid innings can change everything. A chance to spend time in the middle, regain rhythm and finish unbeaten could have helped him build confidence heading into the remaining T20Is before the World Cup.
Mohammed Kaif also touched upon the mental side of poor form. He suggested that when confidence dips, hesitation creeps in and players sometimes start doubting whether they should take responsibility at key moments. In his view, leadership demands bravery. A captain cannot afford to hide in the dugout hoping things will turn around. Facing the challenge directly is often the only way out of a slump. By the time Suryakumar walked in to bat, there were not many runs left to score, limiting his chances of making a meaningful contribution. Kaif felt that batting earlier could have allowed him to score 40 or more and feel like his old self again.
Suryakumar Yadav’s fluctuating batting position has been another talking point this year. He has batted ten times at number three and eight times at number four, highlighting the lack of clarity around his role. Even in the same South Africa series, India promoted Axar Patel ahead of their captain in one match, adding to the confusion.
Despite the criticism, Suryakumar remains confident. After the match, he dismissed suggestions that he was out of form, saying he felt good in practice and was batting fluently in the nets. He expressed belief that runs in matches would soon follow.
For now, the debate continues. As captain and senior batter, Suryakumar Yadav stands at a crossroads where belief, bold decisions and timing could define not just his form but India’s direction in T20 cricket.
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