During the Raipur T20I, when Suryakumar Yadav came in to bat at no. 4, things weren’t looking good for India. At the end of two overs, they were 8 for 2. The Indian team was chasing a target of 209 runs on a good wicket.
Surykumar Yadava has been off his game for close ot 468 days. He was not able to score big in a T20 game. There were some signs that he had returned to the form in the first game when he scored 32 off 22 balls. However, we were missing the old Suryakumar Yadav, and that changed in Raipur.
Surya began his innings with caution and allowed Ishan Kishan to take charge at the beginning. The Indian skipper smashed Zak Foulkes all around the ground and found his rhythm. Once he was in his element, there was no stopping him.
Surya always maintained that it was just a matter of one knock, and it came against New Zealand. The fifty from Surya came after 23 inning wait. The most important thing for Indians fans is that his return to form has come at the right time, when they are about to go into the ICC T20I World Cup 2026 as defending champions.
In the match, he made 82 runs off just 37 balls. This innings from the skipper carries a deeper significance. The innings solves many tactical issues for India as they are looking to defend the T20 title.
During his lean phase, he showed great patience and took his time at the crease. With younger guys like Abhishek in the first match and Ishan in the second taking the attack to the bowler, Surya could afford to settle in without any pressure. He even credited his wife for playing a key role in the mindset shift.
“There’s a coach sitting at home as well, to whom I am married. She keeps telling me, ‘I think you should take some time,” said Surya.
In this innings, he played all around the park. Scored 40 runs on the off side and 42 on the leg side. It is the balance of runs on both sides that earned him the nickname Mr. 360.
With Surya coming back to form, India now has a team filled with in-form batters. Going into the T20I World Cup, India needed this kind of boost. Now, the Indian middle order is extremely strong with Surya, Tilak, and Hardik in the side.
Now, India can afford the flexibility in the batting order as well. He has never shied away from adjusting his position. Here is what he said after the game.
“I was, anyway, telling everyone that I was batting well. I was trying on the net. But no matter how much you do in the nets, until you score runs in the match, you don’t get confidence.”
