Suryakumar Yadav Seeks AB de Villiers' Guidance for ODI Comeback

Suryakumar Yadav, the T20I captain of India, is seeking advice from former South African star AB de Villiers to rejuvenate his ODI career in preparation for the 2027 World Cup. Despite his success in T20 cricket, Yadav has struggled in ODIs, leading to his exclusion from the squad. He admires de Villiers' ability to excel in both formats and hopes to learn from his experience. As he leads India in a T20I series against Australia, Yadav is eager to balance his game and make a strong comeback in ODIs.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 5, 2025, 00:45 IST

Suryakumar Yadav's Quest for ODI Revival

The captain of India's T20I team, Suryakumar Yadav, has reached out to former South African captain AB de Villiers for assistance in revitalizing his One Day International (ODI) career as he prepares for the 2027 World Cup. While Yadav has made a name for himself as a dynamic player in T20 cricket, he has faced challenges in maintaining that same level of performance in ODIs.

After debuting in T20Is against England in 2021, Yadav was brought into the ODI squad with the expectation that his explosive style would translate well into the longer format. Unfortunately, his performance did not meet expectations, leading to his exclusion following India's disappointing defeat in the 2023 World Cup final.

Since November 2023, Yadav has not been part of the ODI team due to his inconsistent batting and struggles to construct innings during the middle overs, prompting selectors to seek more dependable players for the format.

Learning from AB de Villiers

In a conversation with journalist Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel, Yadav expressed admiration for de Villiers' remarkable ability to transition smoothly between formats. He acknowledged his own difficulties in achieving this balance.

"If I get a chance to meet him, I would love to ask how he managed to juggle his T20I and ODI performances. I haven't been able to do that effectively," Yadav shared.

"I believed that ODIs should be approached like T20Is. I want to learn from him about his success in both formats," he added.

AB de Villiers' Impressive Career Stats

AB de Villiers has had a stellar career in both white-ball formats. In ODIs, he scored 9,427 runs, which includes 25 centuries and 52 half-centuries, boasting an average of 54.17 and a strike rate of 101.27 across 223 matches.

In T20Is, he accumulated 1,672 runs with 10 fifties, averaging 26.12 in 78 matches. His adaptability across formats, including Tests, and his innovative approach under pressure have made him one of the most respected batsmen in modern cricket.

A Call for Urgent Guidance

Yadav has made a heartfelt plea to de Villiers to connect with him soon as he aims to reconstruct his ODI career ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

"AB, if you hear this, please reach out to me quickly. The next few years are crucial for me, and I am eager to play ODI cricket as well. I need your help! I struggled to balance T20Is and ODIs," he stated.

Yadav's ODI statistics are modest, with 773 runs, including four fifties, at an average of 25.76 in 37 matches. During his first ODI World Cup in 2023, he managed only 106 runs at an average of 17.66 over seven matches.

Currently, Yadav is leading Team India in a five-match T20I series against Australia. After leveling the series 1-1 with a five-wicket victory in the third T20I in Hobart, the team aims to take the lead in the fourth T20I at Bill Pippen Oval in Gold Coast on Thursday, November 6.