If you’ve been following Indian cricket over the past few years, one name that probably made you jump off your couch is Suryakumar Yadav. SKY, as he’s fondly called, has been the ultimate entertainer, with reverse scoops, cheeky flicks, and power shots that leave bowlers clueless. But somewhere along the way, especially after taking over the T20I captaincy, his batting graph started to nosedive. From a batter who could own any bowling attack to a skipper struggling for runs, Suryakumar’s story in T20Is is both fascinating and a little worrying. Let’s break down the stunning highs and the shocking downfall.
Captaincy: A Blessing or a Burden?
Numbers don’t lie, and in Suryakumar’s case, they scream for attention. As a non-captain, his T20I stats were nothing short of breathtaking: 61 matches, 2,040 runs at an average of 43.40, and a strike rate of 168.17. Add to that three centuries and 17 fifties, and you’ve got a player who was comfortably sitting in the “world’s best” conversation.
Yet, as soon as he is handed a captain’s armband, the magic has waned. In 27 matches as a captain, SKY has scored a mere 617 runs at an average of 26.82. Sure, a strike-rate of 156.20 is decent, but the consistent runs-centurion we had seen is no longer there. Wet, the float in his motion is more desperation now than swagger.
Home vs Away: The Tale of Two Skies
Another fascinating angle is his record at home, away, and at neutral venues. Pre-captaincy, SKY was almost machine-like—averaging over 47 both at home and away, with strike rates hovering around 170. Even at neutral venues, he still looked dangerous with 654 runs at a brisk 164.73 strike rate.
Post-captaincy, though, things turned patchy. At home, his average has dipped to 21.84 across 13 matches. Away, he’s slightly better with 281 runs at 35.12, but still far below his old self. At neutral venues, the numbers are shockingly low—just 52 runs in four games. For a player once hailed as a “360-degree run machine,” these splits highlight just how much captaincy has clipped his wings.
Year-by-Year: From Meteoric Rise to Sharp Decline
Looking at his year-wise record tells the story even clearly. In 2022, SKY was untouchable—1,164 runs at a staggering average of 46.56 and a strike rate close to 190. He was the poster boy of T20I batting, smashing bowling attacks for fun. 2023 wasn’t too shabby either, with 733 runs at nearly 49 per innings.
But 2024 brought emerging storm clouds. His average dropped to 26.81, and in 2025, it’s only worse, with an embarrassing 12.42 (from 10 games). This is not a blip, this is a freefall. Sure, his 717 runs for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 were an outlier, but that has provided no evidence to suggest he can put things back together at the international level.
Perhaps Yadav not having the burden of captaincy would help him to live out his style of batting, which he clearly enjoys, with flair and freedom.
FAQs
1. Why has Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I form dipped after becoming captain?
His batting averages and consistency have dropped significantly under the added pressure of leadership.
2. How do Suryakumar’s stats as captain compare to when he wasn’t captain?
As captain, he averages 26.82, while as a non-captain, he averaged 43.40 with far better consistency.
3. Did Suryakumar perform better at home, away, or neutral venues before captaincy?
He performed strongly both at home and away, averaging around 47 in both conditions.
Disclaimer: TThis blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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