India captain Suryakumar Yadav stays positive amid lean patch: ‘Runs will come eventually’

India captain Suryakumar Yadav stays positive amid poor form. (Photo: X)

Despite going through one of the most difficult times in his career, Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of the India T20I team, is calm and composed.

Even as concerns about his protracted slump grow, Surya, ahead of the opening game against Australia in Canberra, maintained that it's only a matter of time until the runs start flowing again.

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, expressed his unwavering support for SKY, but it's time for the captain to let his bat do the talking.

Surya batted in 18 innings in 2023, scoring 733 runs at a strike rate of over 156, including five half-centuries and two tons. The Indian captain scored just 100 runs from 10 innings at an average of 11 runs per game in 2025, compared to slightly less than 450 runs at a strike rate of 151 in 2024.

His strike rate of over 105 stands out as an outlier, indicating that even though he has had trouble scoring runs, he hasn't entirely given up his attacking intent.

''I feel I have been working really hard. Not that I wasn't working hard before. I have had good few sessions back home, good 2-3 sessions here, so I am in good space,'' the skipper said at the pre-series press conference at the Manuka Oval.

The captain emphasized the team's objective once more.

''Runs, it will come eventually but I'm working hard towards the team goal. It's more important what team wants from you in different situations and I take one game at a time and if it starts then I think it will be a good thing.''

Surya's limited strokeplay range and constant attempt to play behind the square by utilizing the pace and bounce of the deliveries have been his main issues.

Josh Hazlewood's presence and those Test match lengths on and in the off-stump corridor will cause issues, even though bounce in Manuka Oval surface provides him an opportunity to ride on it and get maximum returns.

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was sidelined for the third and final match against Australia after suffering a left quadriceps injury during the two-wicket loss in the second ODI.

Providing an update on the player's fitness, the captain said, ''He is doing fine. Yesterday, Nitish did some running, batting in the nets. Today, he wanted to take a break as it was an optional practice, but he came to the ground because we had a team meeting, and he wanted to stay with the group because it's a T20 new team. He looks good.''