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Former cricketer Parthiv Patel remarked that Team India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav needs to get big runs under his belt in the upcoming five-match series against South Africa. He noted that the swashbuckling batter has gotten off to decent starts in the recent past, but hasn’t been able to convert them.
Suryakumar scored 84 runs across four innings at a strike rate of 171.42 in the Men in Blue’s five-match away T20I series against Australia last month. He played five matches for Mumbai in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but failed to hit a single half-century.
The 35-year-old finished with 165 runs at a strike rate of 139.83. Commenting on the Indian skipper’s form, Parthiv said on Star Sports:
“It is true that if you look at Suryakumar Yadav, the batter, there is a need for runs. He got a start in Australia, and we got some glimpses. We have seen some innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well, but those big runs haven’t come.”
Notably, Suryakumar was in the middle of a purple patch during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). The Mumbai Indians (MI) star became the first non-opener to score over 700 runs in a single edition.
He was the second-highest run-scorer of the season, chalking up 717 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 167.91. However, he failed to translate the red-hot form into international cricket.
Suryakumar has played 17 T20Is in 2025 and has just 185 runs to his name from 15 innings at an underwhelming average of 15.33 and a strike rate of 127.77.
“He should take some time” – Parthiv Patel’s suggestion to Suryakumar Yadav for IND vs SA 2025 T20Is
During the same discussion, Parthiv Patel opined that Suryakumar Yadav needs to spend more time at the crease. He reckoned that it would help the batter regain his mojo.
He also pointed out that the majority of Suryakumar’s runs come from high-risk shots on the leg-side. The cricketer-turned-commentator added:
“Talking about the leg-side, the flick is his favorite shot. He picks the length quickly and is very fast with his footwork. If we look at his scoring areas, 50 percent comes from the fine leg to the leg-side region.
“Most of the shots you hit in those areas are off the balls that are bowled into the stumps. That means you are taking a lot of risk. I feel he should take some time, and if that happens, we will again see him score those runs on the leg side.”
Suryakumar’s disappointing batting form has not affected his captaincy. India are yet to lose a single bilateral series under his leadership. He led the side to an Asia Cup 2025 triumph earlier this year.
The T20I series opener between India and South Africa will be played at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, on Tuesday, December 9.
Edited by Aditya Suketu Desai
