Suryakumar Yadav is worst IND captain heading to a T20 World Cup; data explains how

Suryakumar form dissected [Source: AFP Photo]

Another T20I match and failure for India captain, Suryakumar Yadav. The Indian skipper is going through a rough patch and has failed to register a single fifty-plus score in T20Is this year. His average is below 15 and the confidence is at an all-time low as SKY was dismissed for 7-ball 5 in the fifth T20I vs South Africa.

With just five more T20Is left before the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar's form is a huge problem for India. He is still one of their best batters in the format, and India would ideally want him to deliver the goods.

However, the big question arises; is Suryakumar Yadav's T20I numbers the worst of any Indian captain has had before a T20 World Cup?

How India captains have fared before every T20 World Cup since 2012

(All India captains before each T20 WC edition)

(Note: There was no imminent T20I matches scheduled before 2014 T20 WC, hence, stats are not provided here).

• As the stats suggest, of all the captains who have played before the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav has had the worst numbers (both in terms of strike rate and average).
• He has only racked up 218 runs, with an average of 13.62 and a strike rate of just 123.16. SKY has been terrific for India in T20Is, but this year has been different.
• His numbers are the worst by an Indian captain before a T20 World Cup and this is a worrying sign for the management.

SKY worst, Kohli best in terms of strike rate and average

• Of all the Indian captains, Virat Kohli has had the best average and strike rate combination before a World Cup. The former T20I captain played just five games before the T20 WC 2021, and he racked up 231 runs, with an average of 115.5 and a strike rate of 147.1
• Even Rohit Sharma had a terrific season before the T20 World Cup as he smashed a scintillating hundred before the T20 World Cup in 2024. Former captain, MS Dhoni, also had interesting numbers before the 2016 World Cup, as he had a strike rate of 229, and an average of 39.
• However, that is not the case with Suryakumar Yadav. This year, he has failed to deliver the goods and statistically, he is the worst Indian captain to perform before the marquee event and with just five matches left before the T20 World Cup, SKY needs to regain his form.

SKY's form could lead to India's early WC exit

• SKY is the captain of the team and if the leader is out of form, it affects the entire squad. Moreover, with just five games left before the mega event, India can’t afford to change their captain, and hence, Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side.
• With the marquee event starting just 50 days later, the Men in Blue will be carrying an out-of-form batter in their squad, and alongside Shubman Gill, who, too, is short of runs, the team will have two players who will be out of touch in the World Cup.
• This could hamper India's gameplan in the World Cup as two of their best batters are short of runs, and the pressure will increase on Abhishek Sharma to carry the batting order.

Final verdict

Heading into the T20 World Cup 2026, SKY has turned out to be the worst Indian captain in terms of strike rate and average before the marquee event. Before every T20 World Cup, all the other Indian captains had delivered the goods and were in form, but that’s not the case with Surya. He is woefully out of touch and India needs him to come back to form Asap.

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