Suryakumar Yadav, the dynamic Indian batter and T20I captain, is facing a dip in form, sparking concern among fans and prompting advice from cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar. After a string of low scores, particularly in the recent T20I series against South Africa, Gavaskar has offered some no-nonsense guidance, urging Suryakumar to "keep that shot in cold storage".
India secured a 2-1 lead in the five-match series against South Africa in Dharamsala, but the performances of Suryakumar and Shubman Gill have been lackluster. Gill managed a scratchy 28 off 28 balls, while Suryakumar scored just 12 runs off 11 balls. Suryakumar's struggles are particularly glaring, as he has failed to score a single fifty for India in 2025, averaging less than 15 in T20Is this year.
Gavaskar's advice specifically addresses Suryakumar's tendency to play the pick-up shot, which has often been a productive scoring method for him. However, Gavaskar noted that when a batter is out of form, the shot tends to go "up in the air instead of going the distance," leading to dismissals. He suggested that Suryakumar should temporarily shelve the shot until he regains his form and timing. "It has been a very, very productive shot for him. Now, when you are not in form, it's only gone up in the air instead of going the distance, and well inside the boundary. So maybe, until he starts to get going, he should look to keep that shot in cold storage," Gavaskar said on commentary. He added, "Because it's getting him out and India doesn't require Suryakumar Yadav scoring only 12 runs".
Suryakumar's recent form is a stark contrast to his stellar performance in 2024, where he scored 420 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 155, including four fifties. In 2025, he has only managed 99 runs off 90 balls in 10 innings, with a significantly lower strike rate of 110. This dip in form has been attributed, in part, to frequent changes in his batting position.
Gavaskar had previously advised Suryakumar to take a few deliveries to assess the pitch conditions before playing his natural game. He emphasized that the situation on the field can be very different from what it looks like from the dugout and that gauging the pace, bounce, or turn is crucial. "He's undoubtedly a class player. All I would suggest is that he give himself three or four deliveries in the middle to assess the conditions—check for pace, bounce, or turn. Watching from the dugout and stepping onto the field can feel very different,” Gavaskar told Sports Today. "Sometimes, if a batter is ahead, it might seem like there's nothing in the pitch, but it's always better to take a few balls to gauge the conditions before playing your natural game," he added.
Despite his recent struggles with the bat, Suryakumar's captaincy has been impressive. Since taking over from Rohit Sharma, he has led India to series wins in Sri Lanka and South Africa and a dominant performance at home against England. India has not lost a single T20I series under his leadership, and he guided the team to the Asia Cup 2025 title. Suryakumar was also a key member of the Indian team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Suryakumar Yadav made his international debut in 2021 and quickly established himself as a key player in the Indian team. He was named the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2022 and has scored four T20I centuries, placing him second on the all-time list for India. Known for his innovative shot-making and ability to score all around the ground, he has earned the nickname "Mr. 360".
As Suryakumar looks to regain his form, Gavaskar's advice serves as a timely reminder to temper his aggressive instincts and prioritize assessing conditions before unleashing his full array of shots.
