Ricky Ponting explains how Suryakumar Yadav can return to his best form in T20Is

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting extended support to Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadavexplaining how the star cricketer can return to the fearless style that made him one of the most destructive hitters in world cricket. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin on February 7, Ponting believes Suryakumar’s experience and confidence will be crucial for India’s campaign.

A surprising slump for Suryakumar Yadav in the T20Is

Suryakumar’s dip in form during the 2025 T20I season has raised eyebrows across the cricket fraternity. Known for his innovative stroke play and ability to dominate bowlers in all phases of an innings, the Indian skipper endured an unusually lean run. In 19 T20I innings in 2025, he scored just 218 runs at an average of 13.62, with a strike rate of 123.16. Notably, he failed to record a single half-century, with his highest score being an unbeaten 47.

Ponting admitted that the numbers were unexpected for a player of Suryakumar’s caliber. The former Australian great pointed out that consistency has long been one of the Indian batting’s greatest strengths, making his recent struggles even more surprising.

“It’s a big surprise to me, just looking at his recent form. He’s been such a solid and consistent contributor for India in T20 cricket for a long time and just hasn’t been able to find it lately. It’s interesting because when I’ve seen him play his best, he takes six, eight or 10 balls to start and then lets it all go,” Ponting told the ICC.

Ponting explains how Suryakumar can return to form

Ponting stressed that the key to Suryakumar’s revival lies in mindset rather than technique. According to Ponting, when Suryakumar is at his best, he allows himself a brief period of adaptation before unleashing his full range of shots without fear of being dismissed. The Tasmanian drew parallels with Travis headnoting that both players thrive when they focus on scoring freely instead of worrying about getting out. He advised Suryakumar to think about creating runs, trust his instincts and support methods that have already been proven at the highest level.

“He plays all his shots and backs himself and a bit like Travis Head where it almost seems like they are never afraid to go out. That’s what I would say to him. I would say, think about scoring runs, don’t think about going out. Trust yourself, back yourself. You have proven that you are as good as anyone in the world in the T20 format and go prove it to everyone once again,” added Ponting.

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Stark contrast between international and IPL form for Surya

What has intrigued pundits and fans alike is the stark contrast between Suryakumar’s international struggles and his dominant performances in franchise cricket. During the IPL2025 season, he was in sensational touch during Mumbai Indiansfinishing as the franchise’s top scorer with 717 points. He averaged an astonishing 65.18 and batted at 167.91, dismantling bowling attacks regularly and easily. This disparity suggests that the problem is not a decline in skills but perhaps the added pressure of international leadership and expectations.

As India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar’s form takes on added significance. His performances at the upcoming World Cup will be closely scrutinized, not only for their impact on India’s results, but also for what they reveal about his leadership under pressure.

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