On the topic of not getting enough runs in recent matches, Suryakumar Yadav has said that he is “out of runs, not out of form.” This can be termed as self-belief on the part of Surya. In cricketing terms, it is also an important distinction.
A player out of runs is assumed to be doing everything right but not getting the runs. On the other hand, a out of form player is thought to have technical issues. In the case of Surya, this distinction is kind of blurring because he is in a 15-month slump.
Suryakumar Yadav was arguably the most destructive batsman in T20 cricket since his debut in the format. He had the ability to pierce the field with unmatched precision. His batting was based on an unorthodox approach. He scored a heap of runs in a way that made the opposition change their bowling plans.
He scored a third of his runs against pace in the quarter pie region behind the square on the leg side. It is an area that most batters treat as a release option rather than a scoring zone. That Surya made everyone in awe of his batting.
However, since 2024, he has been unable to provide those kinds of returns. Since 2024, 18 of his 19 dismissals have come against seam bowlers. He has an average of 8.11 and a strike rate of just under 110 against seam bowlers. Out of 18 dismissals against pace, he had been caught out 16 times. And most of them have come from genuine strokes rather than mishits. You must also know about one more statistic that he has been dismissed within 10 deliveries in 13 of those dismissals.
So, the idea that the Surya is just out of runs is not entirely convincing. Most Surya dismissals in recent times have been made without control, which is often more dangerous in limited-overs cricket.
We can say that there is definitely a decline in his prowess as a T20 batter. His shot selection and execution are also not what they used to be. His control percentage has also dropped in this phase. Before 2024, he used to be in control of 86% of aerial shots. Now, it has slid to 52%.
