Indian T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav endured a poor Asia Cup in terms of runs, as he managed just one meaningful contribution — an unbeaten 47 against arch-rivals Pakistan in India’s second game of the tournament. Across six innings, Yadav's bat failed to do the talking. However, his leadership was vital in guiding India to the Asia Cup title. His knock against Pakistan was believed to be a hint at a potential return to form, but unfortunately, it remained an outlier in an otherwise underwhelming campaign.
His scores in the rest of the tournament — 0, 5, 12, and 1 — painted a picture of inconsistency and struggle. Something seemed off with Suryakumar's approach as he lacked the rhythm needed to be in his element. Brushing aside concerns over his form, Yadav said he is not out of form; rather, he is out of runs.
“I feel that when it comes to form, I believe more in what I’m doing in the nets. How spot-on I am with my preparation is what I really focus on. Once the match starts, everything runs on auto-pilot. So if you’re saying I’m out of form, I don’t think that’s the case — I’m not out of form, I’m just out of runs. I feel the runs will come if you keep practising, and with God watching from above, if you keep working hard, everything will fall into place at the right time. It’s happening for others now; who knows what happens next?”
Yadav, who is known for his power-hitting skills and his ability to change the course of a game in a matter of overs, was seen as one of India's most dangerous middle-order options. However, what unfolded during the tournament was a stark contrast to the explosive batting that has been the hallmark of his success. Notably, the fluent drives and audacious scoops that have become his trademark shots were noticeably absent. Meanwhile, India won the Asia Cup title after beating Pakistan in the final last Sunday.