Suryakumar Yadav‘s performance was down in the dumps since he took over as India’s T20I captain in July 2024. His average pre-captaincy was 43.33. For the next two years, it was 25.88. The scoring rates went higher in T20Is. Yet, his strike rate dipped from 167.74 to 152.03.
Therefore, most were rather ecstatic when Shreyas Iyer replaced him after the T20 World Cup 2026. Well, 3 weeks after that, some want Suryakumar back. ‘You miss the sun when it starts to snow’ perfectly encapsulates the emotions. The 360-degree batter wasn’t doing well, but India was during his tenure.
Suryakumar Yadav comeback possible?
Now, they’ve lost 6 matches on the trot. Shreyas hasn’t performed poorly, but his team has. It’s the exact opposite of what was happening with Suryakumar. So, is there a way back for the former skipper? His former India teammate Ravichandran Ashwin isn’t quite sure.
The off-spinner believes that Suryakumar can’t return to the team without breaking down the door, much like what Shreyas or Ishan Kishan did. Firstly, he must score heaps of runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and then in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027.
“Where is he going to play? If he shows good form in the SMAT, he can make a comeback. Why not? Captaincy is difficult right now. He could make a comeback as a batter. He has two tournaments now. He needs to perform in the SMAT, then in the IPL. We cannot close the door on anyone. But the way he was removed from the team, I really doubt it,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’.
Cautionary tale for current Indian cricketers
He understands age isn’t on Suryakumar’s side and doesn’t agree with how he was chucked out of the team, but he believes there’s always a way into the team. Ashwin also cautioned current Indian cricketers. He warned them to be on their toes. Otherwise, you’ll be dropped and may never return. If the selectors can do away with Suryakumar after he won the T20 World Cup as captain, the same can happen to them.
“If you are doing well, you shouldn’t be relaxed. Because if you fail and get dropped, you’ll go back in the queue. Then, you’ll have to perform in domestic cricket and make your way back. Now, Suryakumar has fallen behind in the queue. I think that it is a very tough route to make a comeback, but I never rule anybody out. He’s been a fabulous player. Great servant of the game. One of the biggest Indian captains, having won a T20 World Cup. That’s why I felt it wasn’t right to drop him,” he added.
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