Suryakumar Yadav’s struggle with the bat continues. The out-of-form batsman could also become a liability for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2026. Yadav, who was in great form in the last Indian Premier League season, gradually lost his rhythm since the last quarter of 2025.
But why has this brilliant batsman been struggling with his batting for a long time? Former Team India opener and Mumbai cricket legend Wasim Jaffer points out the main issue with ‘SKY’s batting.
Suyarakumar Yadav’s bad form with the bat continues
Last night, at the Wankhede Stadium, when Mumbai Indians were struggling against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Suryakumar Yadav got an ideal platform to showcase his old form. His partnership with Tilak Verma was important, but it was not enough to compete against CSK’s emerging bowlers.
Since the team had lost several wickets early in the innings and the target was over 200, Yadav started cautiously. He scored 36 runs out of 30 at a strike rate of 120 and hit 5 fours.
Huge decline in Sky’s batting figures in IPL
Last season, when he scored a total of 717 runs, his average strike rate was 167.92, while the batting average was 65.18. There has been a significant decline in the statistics of batsmen this season. In 7 matches of IPL 2026, he has scored 157 runs including one half-century with a strike rate of 142.73.
Wasim Jaffer said that the opposition bowlers are now well aware of the batting style of the 35-year-old player. In recent times, on most occasions, Yadav has lost his wicket in almost the same manner.
The batsman, at his peak, played shots over the keeper’s head or square to the wicket. Whenever he got the opportunity to open his arms, he never hesitated to express himself through innovative strokes. Nowadays, bowlers are hardly giving any space to the batsman. For this reason Suryakumar Yadav was stopped from playing his favorite shots.
Wasim Jaffer asked Suryakumar Yadav to have Plan B
To overcome the situation, Jaffer advised Suryakumar Yadav to change his batting style; The former opener suggested that Suryakumar Yadav play straight instead of playing on the surface.
Jaffer wrote on the ‘X’ post, “Sky is falling into the same trap again and again. Teams prepare the field to limit his shots down the leg side and behind the wicket. He needs a Plan B. He might go straight or hit over cover. Don’t guess. Too good a player to fall into the same trap.”
SKY is getting stuck like this again and again. Teams set up fields to limit his shots down the leg side and behind the wicket. He needs a Plan B. He may go straight or hit it over cover. Don’t be predictable. Too good a player to fall into the same trap. #mi #IPL20206
– Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) 24 April 2026
It is clear that despite the poor run of form, the franchise has faith in the India T20I captain. When Mumbai Indians (MI) regular captain Hardik Pandya missed the match against Delhi Capitals, Yadav was appointed as the stand-in captain.
But he will also have to support the team with his batting. Being one of the senior players of the team, Yadav knows very well the importance of scoring runs. For now, fans can only pray for the early return of Suryakumar Yadav in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Read more: Mumbai Indians qualification scenario after loss to CSK in IPL 2026
