Ricky Ponting Encourages Suryakumar Yadav to Reclaim T20 Form Ahead of World Cup
Ponting's Support for Suryakumar Yadav
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian cricket star, has expressed his confidence in Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav's ability to bounce back before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He emphasized that Yadav should "trust himself and focus on scoring runs rather than worrying about getting out."
Suryakumar's Recent Struggles
Once a dominant force in T20 cricket known for his innovative 360-degree hitting, Suryakumar faced a significant decline in performance last year. In 2025, despite his leadership skills, he managed only 218 runs across 19 innings, averaging 13.62 with a strike rate of 123.16.
Ponting's Surprise at Suryakumar's Performance
During a recent episode of ICC Review, Ponting remarked on his astonishment regarding Suryakumar's form, stating, "It's surprising to see him struggle, given his consistent contributions to India's T20 team over the years. He hasn't been able to find his rhythm lately."
Ponting noted that when Suryakumar is at his best, he typically takes a few balls to settle in before unleashing his full potential.
Advice from Ponting
The former Australian captain remains optimistic about Yadav's return to form, encouraging him to embrace his natural playing style. He stated, "He plays all his shots confidently, similar to Travis Head, who seems unafraid of getting out. My advice would be to focus on scoring runs and not on the possibility of getting out."
Ponting concluded by urging Yadav to trust his abilities, reminding him that he is among the best in the T20 format and should aim to showcase that talent once more.
India's T20 World Cup Group
India has been drawn in Group A for the T20 World Cup, alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the USA. Their campaign will kick off against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai.
India's Squad for the T20 World Cup
The squad representing India in the T20 World Cup 2026 and the New Zealand T20I series includes: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, and Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper).