A few clouds in the SKY? With Shubman Gill’s elevation to vice-captaincy, heat is on Suryakumar Yadav to regain his aura | Cricket News

Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill (X)

Mumbai: When the new poster boy of Indian cricket, Shubman Gill, was appointed vice-captain of the T20 staff, it generated a optimistic buzz. For Suryakumar Yadav, although, the announcement carried a really totally different message: the selectors could have simply put him on discover.Harsh? Perhaps. Unfair? Maybe. After all, this is a person with a profitable share nearing 80 as captain. But when the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, introduced the Asia Cup squad final month, the message popping out of BCCI’s ivory tower was unmistakable: a captain’s job isn’t nearly profitable sequence — the runs want to move from his personal bat.As captain, Surya featured in 22 matches, scoring 558 runs at a median of 26.57, with one century and 4 half-centuries. Those numbers pale in comparability to his blistering kind earlier than the captaincy crown weighed closely on his head. Back then, in 61 video games, freed from management duties, he plundered 2,040 runs at an eye-popping common of 43.40, studded with three centuries and 17 fifties.Since that enticing 75 towards Bangladesh in Hyderabad final Oct, the runs dried up. The five-match England sequence at dwelling was a private low level the place he scored 28 with a highest of 21 and a few geese to rub salt into the wounds.

Mumbai: Indian males’s T20 cricket staff captain Suryakumar Yadav throughout a press convention to announce the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)(PTI08_19_2025_000240B)

The whispers forward of the Asia Cup choice had been that Surya was advised in no unsure phrases — repair your batting first.“His numbers dropping (while leading India) is a worry,” says former India opener Wasim Jaffer, who captained Surya in his early days in First-Class cricket with Mumbai.

“Him not getting the runs is a concern. In the last few internationals he played, he was looking to score mostly behind square on the leg side. His shot selection was not up to the mark. But he has since worked on his game, and as we saw, he was a completely different player in the IPL. He started scoring on the offside as well. When Surya plays shots all around the wicket, there’s not much the bowlers can do. He is very dangerous. Then there isn’t margin for the bowlers. He has done well in the IPL; hopefully, that should continue.”The numbers again Jaffer’s phrases. Last season, Surya was in classic mode — 717 runs in 16 innings at a scorching strike charge of 168.

Suryakumar Yadav

But the Asia Cup is a special beast. It brings its personal pressures — a number of groups, excessive stakes, and a captain’s plate overflowing with accountability. For Surya, the problem isn’t nearly getting the batting order proper or nailing the staff mixture. It’s about setting the tone whereas batting at no matter quantity he chooses to and proving he can nonetheless personal the stage.Yet, there’s one other subplot to take care of. There might be 4 captains in the XI, counting Surya. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah have led India earlier than. Gill, evidently, is being groomed for future management. Could this be a recipe for confusion? Jaffer doesn’t suppose so.“Every tour, every series, you have a vice-captain. It doesn’t mean the captain is under threat,” he says. “Selectors have made it clear — Bumrah can’t play every series, so he’s out. Hardik? They’re not looking at him for now. That leaves Shubman and maybe Shreyas when he’s back.

Gautam Gambhir, Suryakumar Yadav

“On the contrary, experienced heads like Hardik, Bumrah, and Shubman will only help in crunch moments. But at the end of the day, Surya must make the tough calls.” For a person who redefined T20 batting with his audacious stroke play, the query now is whether or not he can discover his magic below the weight of expectation. The Asia Cup isn’t simply one other event for Suryakumar Yadav. It’s an examination — and the world is ready to see if SKY emerges from the shadow of doubts.“Every tournament has its own challenges,” Jaffer explains. “This is a multi-nation cup. Before this, it was just bilateral series. India bounced back well to win the series after losing matches to South Africa and England. It’s not that he hasn’t been under pressure before, but this will be different. Knowing him, he won’t overthink. He’ll deal with it.”Jaffer believes Surya’s character makes him fitted to the function. “He’s done this job for a while now. He’s comfortable at this level. He’s a good communicator and gets the message across.”