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India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav ended the year 2025 without a fifty and an average of 13.62 from 19 innings. With a few weeks go into T20 World Cup 2026, Suryakumar's form is concerning the and the explosive admitted it in the post-match presentation as well. In the fifth and final T20I of the series, Suryakumar walked out to bat in the 10th over. Despite a platform set for him, he departed after scoring just five runs from seven deliveries. After India won the game and the series, an in-form Tilak Varma backed Suryakumar amid lean patch. Varma also revealed what he told the captain in the middle.
"I was just saying (to him) that just middle a few balls, just wait and just be calm and take the few balls' times," Tilak told reporters on December 19. "If (the) team wants I can get going from the other side, (but) you just be on the crease and take some time. Take the feel of the middle of the bat, that's what I was talking to him."
Varma scored 73 runs from 42 deliveries, featuring 10 fours and a six. He shared a 105-run partnership with Hardik Pandya which helped India post 231/5 on the board on a batting-friendly track at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The southpaw has backed Suryakumar to find his form. He feels that he is just one innings away from being back to his dangerous self.
"If he gets that confidence then he will be... everyone has watched him, how he can play, so I think at this time if he takes a few balls at that moment, I would not say (to him to) just (try) going over the fielder.
"But I was just saying (to him) that try finding the gaps. If you can pierce the field well from your bat, you get a good feel about it and after that you are going to hit. It was not his day, but everyone is waiting for that one innings, if he gets that one innings then everyone knows how dangerous he can be," he added.
Suryakumar’s chance to turn it around before mega event
From four innings against the Proteas, Suryakumar managed to score just 34 runs. Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Suryakumar will have a chance to regain his form in the five-T20I series against New Zealand, kicking off on January 21.
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