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 style that once made him one of the most destructive batters in world cricket. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin on February 7, Ponting believes Suryakumar’s experience and self-belief will be crucial for India’s campaign.
A surprising slump for Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is
Suryakumar’s dip in form during the 2025 T20I season raised eyebrows across the cricketing fraternity. Known for his innovative stroke play and ability to dominate bowlers in all phases of an innings, the Indian skipper endured an unusually lean run. Across 19 T20I innings in 2025, he scored only 218 runs at an average of 13.62, with a strike rate of 123.16. Notably, he failed to register a single half-century, with his highest score being an unbeaten 47.
Ponting admitted that the numbers were unexpected for a player of Suryakumar’s calibre. The former Australian great highlighted that consistency had long been one of the Indian batter’s biggest strengths, making his recent struggles even more surprising.
“That’s as big a surprise for me, just looking at his recent form. He’s been such a solid and consistent contributor for India in T20 cricket for a long time and just hasn’t been able to find it of late. He’s an interesting one because when I’ve seen him play his best, he’s taken six or eight or 10 balls to get going and then just lets it all go,” Ponting told ICC.
Ponting explains how Suryakumar can regain his form
Ponting stressed that the key to Suryakumar’s revival lies in mindset rather than technique. According to Ponting, when Suryakumar is at his best, he allows himself a brief settling-in period before unleashing his full range of shots without fear of dismissal. The Tasmanian drew parallels with Travis Head, noting that both players thrive when they focus on scoring freely instead of worrying about getting out. He advised Suryakumar to think about run-making, trust his instincts, and back the methods that have already proven successful at the highest level.
“He plays all of his shots and backs himself and a bit like Travis Head where it almost looks like they don’t ever fear getting out. That’s what I’d say to him. I’d be saying, think about scoring runs, don’t think about getting out. Trust yourself, back yourself. You’re proven to be as good as anybody in the world in the T20 format and go and prove it to everybody once again,” added Ponting.
Stark contrast between international and IPL form for Surya
What has puzzled experts and fans alike is the sharp contrast between Suryakumar’s international struggles and his dominant performances in franchise cricket. During the IPL 2025 season, he was in sensational touch for Mumbai Indians, finishing as the franchise’s leading run-scorer with 717 runs. He averaged an astonishing 65.18 and struck at 167.91, regularly dismantling bowling attacks with ease. This disparity suggests that the issue is not a decline in skill but perhaps the added pressure of leadership and expectations at the international level.
As India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar’s form carries added significance. His performances at the upcoming World Cup will be closely scrutinized, not only for their impact on India’s results but also for what they signal about his leadership under pressure.
