Suryakumar Yadav has shown his excellent form during the New Zealand and South Africa series. Similarly, he came with form in the 2026 T20 World Cup also. He played a match-winning inning of 84 runs against USA in India’s opening game at the Wankhede Stadium.
This was indeed a special innings from the India T20I captain, as India’s batting collapsed in the very first game. He has also played some important run-a-ball innings in other games when there was a small collapse in the middle overs. Praising his performance, India’s former T20 World Cup winner Irfan Pathan has compared him with former Indian captain Virat Kohli.
‘He is playing a role like Virat Kohli’- Irfan Pathan
Suryakumar Yadav, who plays with a blazing strike rate, has played more of an anchor role and that is why Irfan Pathan has shared his opinion that this is the reason for the decline in the strike rate.
Here is the video
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Irfan said, “Suryakumar Yadav has played 119 balls. His average is 54 and his strike rate is 136. He often plays with a strike rate of more than 150, but he is playing a different role here. Especially that innings against USA was tremendous. He is playing a role like Virat Kohli.”
It would be better for Suryakumar Yadav to bat at number 3.
Suryakumar Yadav usually bats at No. 3, but he has sacrificed that spot for Tilak Verma, and the former is batting at No. 4. SKY has always been a team man and has helped the youngsters develop under him.
“Can Suryakumar Yadav move in at No. 3? India need to break the monotony of left-handers at the top against off-spinners. Even if the off-spinner is not bowling, if there are back-to-back left-handers, it becomes easier for the opposition to nail down that angle.”
In the tournament, he has scored 162 runs in four innings with an excellent strike rate of 136.13. He will be key in the upcoming game against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Irfan Pathan also praised the way Ishan Kishan has made a comeback and the way he is batting in the tournament.
| Suryakumar Yadav – T20 World Cup 2026 Match-wise Stats | |||
|
match |
it goes | date | Field |
| India vs Netherlands | 34 | 18-February-26 | Ahmedabad |
| india vs pakistan | 32 | 15-February-26 | Colombo (RPS) |
| india vs namibia | 12 | 12-February-26 | Delhi |
| India vs America | 84* | 07-February-26 | Wankhede |
‘South Africa will ask him to play on the off side initially’- Irfan Pathan
Talking about Ishan Kishan, he said, “The way he batted against Pakistan increased his respect in everyone’s eyes. In fact, I have started liking him even more because of the way he played and overcome his technical flaws, which are still there. He struggles against spin, but manages it very well.”
Irfan also revealed that South Africa will be well prepared, as Ishan likes to play shots high on the leg side at the start of the innings, and the Proteas will try to bowl away from him.
He concluded, “He usually starts down the ground or on the leg side. Every batsman has a shot. Ishan Kishan’s favorite shot is to play the pull shot or the flick.”
“He plays a big shot with the bat horizontally on the leg side, and then he gets the pace. I think South Africa will play him on the off side initially. They will create that angle and let him play on the off side.”
Also read: Role of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma revealed in Abhishek Sharma’s hat-trick of zero
