NEW DELHI: Since taking on the T20I captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav has acted like a pied piper, however his bat has misplaced its tune.Through the title-winning Asia Cup run, the 35-year-old made headlines not for his breathtaking pictures or match-winning knocks, however for his theatrics. From refusing to shake palms with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to sitting out the league recreation towards Oman, Suryakumar Yadav has been within the highlight for all of the unsuitable causes — making an attempt too onerous to channel his inside Rohit Sharma by forgetting participant names at tosses, downplaying the India-Pakistan rivalry, dabbling in political remarks, and giving infinite interviews.If one had been to imagine all that he has mentioned throughout the numerous interviews he’s given, it might sound as if he’s steered India to the T20 World Cup. In actuality, it was the Asia Cup — a match the place India had been overwhelming favourites and even a second-string facet might have crushed the present dysfunctional Pakistan group.India received the Asia Cup and defeated Pakistan thrice, however amid all this noise, captain Suryakumar Yadav’s poor type went unnoticed.

In eleven innings this yr, India’s T20I captain has managed simply 100 runs at a strike price of 105.26. Since changing into skipper, he has scored 330 runs in 20 innings with two fifties to his title.The saving grace for him had been the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), the place the Mumbai Indians batter slammed 717 runs in 16 innings at an explosive strike price of 167.90.However the focus now could be on lifting the T20 World Cup title as soon as once more – on house soil at that. Will chief selector Ajit Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir overlook Surya’s hunch?

TimesofIndia.com understands that Surya has the backing of the group administration until the 2026 World Cup, however the huge query stays — how lengthy can his barren run go ignored?On Monday, coach Gautam Gambhir backed the T20 skipper. “Actually, Surya’s batting type doesn’t concern me as a result of we’ve dedicated to an ultra-aggressive template in our dressing room. If you embrace this philosophy, failures are inevitable,” he mentioned throughout a dialogue on JioHotstar.“It might be simple for Surya to attain 40 off 30 balls and keep away from criticism, however we’ve collectively determined that it’s acceptable to fail whereas pursuing this method,” he added.Gambhir has additionally supported Surya’s “free-spirited” off-field character, saying it has given the children freedom and expression to play their recreation.However Gambhir is aware of that his phrases will probably be futile if Suryakumar Yadav’s poor type continues within the five-match T20I collection towards Australia beginning Wednesday.Surya has gone with no fifty in his final 14 innings — uncommon for him — and his mode of dismissals within the Asia Cup suggests opponents have discovered a chink in his armour.

Barring an unbeaten 47 towards arch-rivals Pakistan within the group stage, he seemed all at sea towards each tempo and spin. His eagerness to play the sweep shot towards spinners and premeditated flicks has typically value him his wicket. In Dubai, the pitches had been two-paced, however in Australia he’ll face bouncier tracks — because the ODI collection already hinted.After profitable the Asia Cup closing, whereas addressing questions on ‘handshake-gate’ and the trophy-less celebration, Surya seemed uncomfortable when requested about his type. He mentioned: “I really feel I’m not off form, I really feel I’m out of runs.”With 5 months to go for the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav will probably be determined to rediscover his contact — as a result of no group needs a struggling captain heading into a world showpiece occasion.