Strike-rate of just 124.24: Analyzing Suryakumar Yadav's downfall in T20Is in 2025

Suryakumar dip in form in 2025 [Source: AFP Photo]

Suryakumar Yadav was once touted as Mr 360-degree and Mr consistent in the T20I format, but in 2025, things have gone downhill for the Indian T20I captain. While the team has played some brilliant cricket in T20Is, SKY’s own numbers have dipped drastically, and it could be a worrying sign for India ahead of the T20 World Cup.

This year, Suryakumar has looked like a pale shadow of his former self as the batter once hailed as the greatest T20I player has fallen down in the format that he dearly loves. So, the question arises, what has happened to SKY?.

Suryakumar Yadav's T20I runs in last three years

(SKY T20I stats before BAN clash)

• The data clearly tells Suryakumar Yadav’s decline this year. He was at the top of the world in 2023, 2024, but come 2025, SKY’s numbers have dipped and this is a worrying sign for India ahead of T20 World Cup.
• If we see the stats clearly, with each passing year, his strike rate has gone down, but the real problem comes in 2025. This is the first time in Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I career that his strike rate has dipped below 140 (124), and moreover, he is yet to cross the 100-run mark in T20Is this year.
• Not even a single fifty has come this year, and the average is also below 20 as Suryakumar has failed to deliver for India in T20Is.

Is there a technical issue with Suryakumar Yadav?

• T20I cricket doesn’t demand too much of technique as the plan should be simple - see the ball, hit it. This was the Indian captain’s mantra before 2025, however, he has changed his batting approach and now takes time to get going. This allows the bowlers to target him as SKY plays a bit cautiously at the start of his innings.
• Inconsistency in batting position: Before being appointed as the skipper, and to some extent after being appointed, SKY had a fixed batting position - at number 4. However, this season has witnessed him chopping and changing his slot, and that has disrupted his rhythm. In some games, he has batted at number 3, in some he has played at 4, and in some cases, SKY comes in at 5 as well.

Being the captain of the Indian T20I team, SKY is a vital cog in the batting lineup, as nobody is better than Suryakumar when he is in form. However, the batter needs to regain his form, especially with key series coming up, and with the World Cup just around the corner.

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