Sanjay Bangar has called Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I form a “massive fall” from his IPL standards and feels that India’s flexible batting order has not helped the captain find the rhythm he enjoys at Mumbai Indians.

Suryakumar’s 20-inning drought without a fifty

Suryakumar Yadav is going through his worst patch in T20I cricket. It has now been 20 innings since he last scored a fifty. Since November 2024, he has managed just 227 runs at an average of 13.35, which is a huge drop from the “Mr 360” batter who once dominated white-ball cricket. In the ongoing home series against South Africa, he has made only 12 and 5 in the first two matches, adding to the concern around his form.

For a player who was known for explosive starts and finishing games with ease, this is a worrying trend. The lack of runs is also putting extra pressure on him as captain, with critics questioning whether his form is affecting team combinations and strategies.

IPL vs international numbers: “Massive fall”

Sanjay Bangar pointed out the stark difference between Suryakumar’s IPL form and his international T20I form. In the last IPL season, Suryakumar scored 717 runs in 16 matches for Mumbai Indians at an average of 65.18 and a strike rate of 167.92, including five fifties. Those are world-class numbers that show his ability when he is in rhythm and given clear roles.

But in T20Is over the past year, Suryakumar’s numbers have collapsed. He has an average of just 14 and a strike rate of around 126 in international cricket. Bangar said on Star Sports: “If you see his international innings, it’s a massive fall.” The contrast is sharp, and it raises the question of what has gone wrong in his approach or role for India compared to the Mumbai Indians setup.

Flexible batting order vs stable role at MI

Bangar felt that India’s flexible batting order is one of the main reasons behind Suryakumar’s struggles. At Mumbai Indians, he was given a stable position – usually No. 3 – and stayed there no matter the match situation. This allowed him to settle in, play more balls, and convert his starts into big scores. The more time he got at the crease, the better he was able to use his range of shots.

However, in the Indian T20I setup, the team management has adopted a flexible approach where positions from No. 3 to No. 7 or No. 8 can change depending on the situation. Bangar said this means Suryakumar often has the “pressure of wickets behind him” and has to bat differently instead of playing his natural game. The former batting coach believes that the earlier Suryakumar comes in at No. 3 and the more fixed that position is, the better it will be for his form and confidence.

What lies ahead for Suryakumar

After the current five-match series against South Africa ends, India will play a five-match T20I series against New Zealand before heading into the T20 World Cup 2026 in February. For Suryakumar, these matches will be crucial to find his rhythm and prove he can deliver as both captain and a key batter.

The challenge for the team management will be whether to give him a fixed role and batting position, as Bangar suggests, or continue with the flexible approach that has worked for the overall team balance. Either way, India will need their captain to start scoring runs soon if they want to be serious contenders at the World Cup.