How Can Suryakumar Yadav Get Out From His Dismal Form? Ricky Ponting Gives Valuable Piece Of Advice

India captain Suryakumar Yadav finds himself under mounting scrutiny as the T20 World Cup 2026 draws closer. One of the most destructive batters in the shortest format, Suryakumar has endured a prolonged

slump in international cricket, raising concerns about his readiness to lead India's title defence on home soil.

The numbers paint a worrying picture. Suryakumar has not registered an international half-century since October 2024 and has failed to get past 25 in his last seven innings.

Across 2025, he managed just 218 runs from 19 innings at an average of 13.62, striking at 123.16-figures well below the lofty standards he has set for himself. This dip is especially surprising given his strong Indian Premier League season with Mumbai Indians last year, where he looked fluent and fearless.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the issue is more mental than technical. Speaking on The ICC Review ahead of the T20 World Cup, Ponting admitted he was taken aback by Suryakumar's struggles. "That's as big a surprise for me, just looking at his recent form. He's been such a solid and consistent contributor for India in T20 cricket for a long time and just hasn't been able to find it of late. "

Ponting suggested that the Indian skipper may be overthinking his dismissals instead of trusting his natural game. "He's an interesting one because when I've seen him play his best, he's taken six or eight or ten balls to get going and then just lets it all go. " Drawing a comparison with Australia opener Travis Head, Ponting added, "He plays all of his shots and backs himself and a bit like Travis Head, where it almost looks like they don't ever fear getting out. "

According to Ponting, rediscovering that mindset is key to Suryakumar's revival. "That's what I'd say to him. I'd be saying, think about scoring runs, don't think about getting out. Trust yourself, back yourself. You're proven to be as good as anybody in the world in the T20 format and go and prove it to everybody once again," he said.

India will face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series before the World Cup, offering Suryakumar a final opportunity to find rhythm and confidence. With expectations high and time running out, the series could prove decisive in determining whether India's captain can rediscover his trademark swagger when it matters most.