Star India all-rounder Shivam Dube has said that just because Suryakumar Yadav is not at his best form, that does not necessarily mean that he is a bad cricketer, adding that although he is short of runs, his form will return at the ‘right time’, a days ahead of the fourth T20I against South Africa in Lucknow.
The third game presented an ideal chance for Suryakumar to regain his rhythm while India chased a modest 118-run target, but the fluency that once made him the world’s top-ranked batter was absent.
Runs have been hard to come by for Suryakumar, with his last T20I fifty dating back to October 2024. With the World Cup less than two months away, the pressure is starting to mount.
“He is the kind of player who can make you win five out of five matches
on his own. If he isn’t in form, it does not mean he isn’t a good player,” Dube said while speaking at the pre-match press conference.
“He is one of the best players. No one can do what he can. Yes, he is short of runs, but his form will return at the right time. He can blast at any moment,” Dube added.
The star Indian allrounder stressed that Suryakumar’s mindset and impact go beyond numbers.
“He is a fighter. Whether he is scoring runs or not, he remains the same. He always wants to do something for the team. He is an innovative and threatening player. I think he is a 360-degree player,” Dube said.
Suryakumar’s deputy, Shubman Gill, is enduring a lean patch in the shortest format as well, but Dube expressed confidence in the vice-captain as well.
“I think Shubman Gill is such a player that even when his form is up or down, his average and strike rate are still very good. He has been performing for India for many years,” Dube said.
