India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav once again opened up about his prolonged slump in form, this time during an interaction with students at GLS University, where his candid remarks quickly drew attention. Talking about the ebb and flow of an athlete’s career, Suryakumar struck a reflective tone. “An athlete doesn’t always enjoy the good times. I’m not saying we endure the bad times. It’s a learning process. There’s always a phase where you feel like it’s a learning phase. For me, it’s the learning curve. It’s been a bit up and down,” he said during a speech in Ahmedabad.
However, the 35-year-old followed it up with a line that stood out for its bravery – a remark that some saw as over the top.
“But for me, my troops, 14 of them, are covering me for now. They know what’s going to happen the day I bat. I’m sure you all know that too,” Suryakumar added, hinting at confidence in both his teammates and an eventual return to form.
Despite the chatter surrounding his performances, the Indian skipper maintained that his mindset remains positive.
“I’m very positive. I work really hard,” he said, before drawing a parallel with student life. “Imagine if you get bad grades in your exams and you drop out? You work hard again and you get good grades again. That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to come back with better performances.”
VIDEO | Ahmedabad: India captain Suryakumar Yadav of GLS University says, “I think sports teach you a lot and there comes a time in every sportsperson’s career when you feel like it’s a learning phase, so for me it’s a learning phase. But my 14 soldiers cover it.” pic.twitter.com/4YsDW5TszI— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 20, 2025
Suryakumar’s comments come at a time when his struggles in T20 internationals have been hard to ignore. The right-hander endured a lean 2025, managing just 218 runs from 19 innings at an average of 13.62 and a strike rate of 123.16, with a top score of 47 in the Asia Cup. He also underperformed against South Africa, scoring only 34 runs in four innings during the home series, which India still won 3–1.
The day before Ahmedabad’s speech, Suryakumar openly admitted the length of his rough patch. “Ye waala patch thoda lamba ho gaya (this patch has dragged on too long),” he said at a press conference after announcing the T20 World Cup squad at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. He was present alongside BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.
While Suryakumar retained his place in the team, vice-captain Shubman Gill was left out, prompted questions over the team management still backing the captain despite his form. However, the selectors seem to be banking on his proven pedigree as one of India’s most devastating T20 batsmen.
Support also came from within the camp. Tilak Varma recently said that Suryakumar is just one good innings away from rediscovering the best, stressing that the key is patience and composure rather than drastic technical changes.
With the five-match T20I series against New Zealand coming up next month, Suryakumar will have another opportunity to turn words into runs and justify the faith reposed in him.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
December 22, 2025
