Nagpur: Ahead of the first T20I against New Zealand, Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed concerns about his recent batting form, maintaining a positive outlook. Despite a noticeable dip in his performance in the T20I format in 2025, where he averaged just 13.62 with no half-centuries in 21 matches, Yadav remains unfazed and committed to his aggressive batting style.
"Every game we play in a series is crucial. We try to get something out of it," Suryakumar stated during the pre-match press conference. He acknowledged his recent struggles but conveyed his determination to stick to the approach that has brought him success in the past. "I have been batting really well at the nets and also talking about the runs; it will definitely come, but at the same time, I can't do things differently. I don't want to change my identity," he asserted.
Yadav humorously downplayed the scrutiny over his form, stating, "If I were playing table tennis, then I'd think more." He emphasized that cricket is a team sport, and his primary responsibility is to ensure the team performs well. He added, "This is a team sport, and my first responsibility is to know how the team is doing. I'm happy if I perform in the team's victory. If not, it doesn't matter, as it can happen. I have to look after the other 14 players also, as I've been appointed as the leader of everyone".
While acknowledging that he has been "short of runs," Suryakumar reiterated his commitment to his established methods. "I have decided to keep doing what I have been doing in the last three or four years, which has given me a lot of success," he explained. He remains confident that he can turn things around in time for the T20 World Cup. "If performances don't come, I'll go back to the drawing board," he added.
The Indian squad is currently dealing with injuries to key players Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar, who have been ruled out of the series. Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been named as replacements. Suryakumar acknowledged the absence of Varma and Sundar but highlighted the opportunities it presents for other players to step up. “Injury is a big part of a sportsman's life. So, we can't do anything about it. It's not in anyone's control. But at the same time, someone else will get an opportunity to play. I mean, we will obviously miss Tilak and Washington as well. They have done so much for the Indian team whenever they have played this format".
Despite his recent slump that led to a drop in the ICC T20I rankings, Suryakumar remains focused on the team's performance in the upcoming series and the T20 World Cup. He will also be playing his 100th T20I match when he leads the team against New Zealand. Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane suggested that Suryakumar might be putting too much pressure on himself and needs to keep things simple to rediscover his form.
India lost both the Test and ODI series to New Zealand. Suryakumar, however, emphasized that those losses are in the past and that the team has been performing well in the T20I format. “The Test series loss was long back. The T20Is are about to start, and we'll talk about that. We've been playing this format well".
