The year 2025 hasn’t quite gone Suryakumar Yadav’s way with the bat, even though he continues to shine as India’s T20I captain, maintaining an impressive unbeaten record in bilateral series. The 35-year-old is currently leading India in a five-match T20I series in Australia, using the opportunity to rediscover his rhythm ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup at home.
So far this year, Suryakumar has scored 139 runs in 12 innings, with his best being an unbeaten 47 during the Asia Cup. However, his recent knock in Canberra suggested that form might just be returning.
In the rain-affected first T20I at the Manuka Oval, Surya looked confident as he crafted a fluent 39 not out off 24 balls, laced with three fours and two sixes — including a breathtaking flick off Josh Hazlewood that sailed over deep square leg.
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While his leadership continues to earn praise, former India batter Robin Uthappa believes Suryakumar needs batting stability to find consistency. His advice? Stick to the No. 3 position. India’s current strategy often promotes Tilak Varma to one down when a left-hander gets out, to maintain a left-right combination. This move sometimes pushes Surya down the order.
However, Robin Uthappa feels that the approach disrupts Suryakumar’s natural game. “It’s a tough call between team balance and individual performance,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel. “But I believe Surya should bat at one position consistently. For me, there’s no better spot for him in T20 cricket than No. 3.”
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He further explained that flexibility can come later if the top order performs well. “If your top three are set, you can experiment afterward. They tried giving Tilak the No. 3 spot in the Asia Cup when a left-hander got out, which is fine — but Suryakumar Yadav shouldn’t bat below No. 4. A top-order batter needs rhythm, and batting lower makes it harder to adjust.”
As India continues their Australian tour, Suryakumar’s form at No. 3 could prove crucial in shaping the team’s batting order ahead of the T20 World Cup.
