IndiaCaptain of T20I Suryakumar Yadav In the third T20I, he faced questions about his long batting struggles South Africa In Dharamsala, India triumphed in seven games to take a 2-1 lead in five games. Scored just 12 points from 11 goals before falling to Good luckSuryakumar continued his sluggish form in the 21 innings of T20Is, with only two games registering notable scores, an unbeaten 75 against Bangladesh and an unbeaten 47 against Pakistan, breaking the previous record. His average in 2025 T20Is dropped to 14.20, highlighting the challenges of fighting pace bowling at a strike rate of less than 126.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav reacts to criticism over sluggish T20Is

Suryakumar dismissed concerns over form after the match, highlighting sharp net practice and confidence in the coming comeback.

“I hit the ball really well at the net. When the runs have to come, they will come. There is no loss of composure. I definitely can’t run anymore.,” he said in his post-game speech.

He praised the team’s resilience after the defeat in the second T20I at Mullanpur, praising the team’s return to fundamentals from the win in Cuttack, the productive bowlers’ meeting and the honest discussions that drove the team’s comeback.

Also read: IND vs SA: Hardik Pandya writes history with unique milestone during 3rd T20I

Suryakumar’s toughest T20I phase

Compared to the all-time peak where he maintained his career-best rating of 912 runs, Suryakumar’s T20I output in 2025 has dropped significantly. In the current calendar year, his numbers have plummeted to an average of 14.2 in 18 innings, and his strike rate has dropped from his usual 170+ range to a more restrained 125.29.

Suryakumar, once the undisputed world number one in the event, is currently facing the most challenging statistical decline of his international career. Throughout 2025, the batsman formerly known as “Mr. 360” has struggled to replicate the explosive, game-changing innings that became his trademark between 2021 and 2023. This slump has been particularly evident in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, where he has scored scores of 12, 5 and 12, failing to provide the mid-order momentum that India expected.

While he remains a tactical asset as a leader, having recently led India to the Asia Cup T20 title, the disconnect between his record-breaking performance in IPL 2025 and his international form has sparked concerns among pundits and fans alike. As the next T20 World Cup approaches, pressure is mounting on the skipper to find his rhythm again and quell the growing scrutiny over his batting consistency.

Watch also: Arshdeep Singh bowls Reeza Hendricks with beauty in 3rd T20I – IND vs SA