Australian legend Ricky Ponting is shocked by Suryakumar Yadav’s dismal performance over the past 18 months and thinks the Indian captain should focus on scoring runs rather than getting out in the run-up to the T20 World Cup.
Suryakumar, who was recently ranked No. 1 in the world, had a terrible run in the shortest format in 2025, scoring just 218 runs in 21 games (19 innings) with a strike rate of 123.16 and 13.62. This is still a worry for the reigning champions ahead of the T20 World Cup next month.
Ponting said on the ICC Review regarding Suryakumar’s performance: “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. 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,” he said.
Ponting stated that he would advise Suryakumar to concentrate on scoring runs rather than considering being 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,” he said.
Shubman Gill, India’s vice-captain until the penultimate series in preparation for the World Cup, was left out, which surprised the former Australian captain.
“Yeah, I couldn’t believe that. I know his recent form hasn’t been great in white-ball cricket. And the last time that I really saw much of him play was the Test series against England in the UK where he batted as well as I’ve ever seen anybody bat,” he said.
“I mean one, I’m surprised, but two, it just shows the depth of Indian cricket. If you can think that someone as good as Shubman Gill doesn’t get picked in a World Cup squad, then it goes to show how many good players they do have,” Ponting added.
According to Ponting, Axar Patel, India’s World Cup vice-captain, will be their go-to player in the 20-team competition, which begins on February 7.
“I mean actually Patel’s been their go-to man really hasn’t he? The last few series he’s been their pinch hitter at different times. They’ve batted him up the order at number three,” he said.
“When they’ve needed that left hand right hand combination he’s been the man to go out and try and do it for them and he’s obviously ever consistent with his left-arm off spin as well,” Ponting added.
