Amidst form slump, Suryakumar Yadav has made his intentions clear with a bold statement on his form after India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement.
Suryakumar Yadav's bold claim ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
Despite a challenging period with the bat, the captain remains confident, stating that he is fully supported by his '14 soldiers' in his teammates, who understand the impact he can make once he roars back to form. This bold stance comes at a critical time as India prepares to defend their title on home soil.
"My 14 soldiers are covering it for me. They know that when I will blast, what will happen then. I am working hard. I go back to the drawing board and hopefully, I come back stronger with a positive mindset," Suryakumar said at an event.
"Sport teaches you a lot of things. It is a learning process. There is a patch where there is a learning phase and I am currently in this phase. We want to keep India entertained. People should enjoy the game," he added.
Suryakumar Yadav's lurching form in 2025
The past year hasn't been good for the India's T20I captain, as far his form is concerned. Although he successfully led India to an Asia Cup title, his personal T20I statistics have plummeted. In 19 innings throughout 2025, he managed just 218 runs at a meager average of 13.62, failing to register a single half-century. His trademark explosive scoring has also cooled, with his strike rate dropping to an uncharacteristic 123.16.
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Despite these struggles, the selection committee has maintained absolute faith in his leadership, ensuring his position in the squad remains secure. Suryakumar himself has been candid about his 'lean patch', admitting that 'Surya the batter' has been missing for some time. Following a disappointing series against South Africa where he recorded scores of 12, 5, 12, and 5, the pressure is mounting as the clock ticks down to the World Cup.
The captain's slump has been notably persistent since he took over the permanent leadership of the T20I side. His difficulties were evident against South Africa last year and continued during England’s tour of India, where he managed only 14 runs across five innings. While a promising 47 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup provided a brief glimpse of his old self, he has struggled to find consistency ever since. The upcoming home series against New Zealand in January now stands as his final opportunity to rediscover his form before the T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7.
India's squad for T20 World Cup and T20I series vs New Zealand
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.