Suryakumar Yadav has been working hard to make a comeback to the Indian T20I team. He lost his captaincy and his place in the side in June this year. He led India to victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, but his form during his time as captain was not what it once was.
Suryakumar has said he is putting in all the hard work and doing everything he can. He said that if things go well, everything will fall into place. His last act as captain was leading India to the World Cup win. But shortly after the IPL, he was removed from captaincy and dropped from the side. He had scored 270 runs in the IPL at a strike rate of 147.54.
Shreyas Iyer was named the new T20I captain. Suryakumar was left out of the squad for the tours of Ireland and England. India lost six of the seven matches they played on that tour. Their only win was the first T20I against England, which was washed out. They also suffered a historic 2-0 defeat to Ireland. They finally ended their losing streak against Zimbabwe, but Suryakumar was not included in that series either.
If he is never picked again, his final match would have been the World Cup final. He has scored 3272 runs in 113 T20Is at a strike rate of 162.98. He is India’s third-highest run-scorer in the format, behind only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He continues to work hard and hopes for another chance.
Comeback Hopes Remain Alive After Sanath Jayasuriya Exchange
Suryakumar Yadav’s potential comeback again came into light after his viral interaction with Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya. The incident took place during an event in Colombo. In a video that went viral on social media, Suryakumar was seen greeting Jayasuriya and jokingly commented on his fitness. He asked whether Jayasuriya was looking to make an international comeback, to which the Sri Lankan great smiled in response.
The conversation came at a time when Suryakumar’s future in the Indian team remains uncertain. He led India to victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup. But was later stripped of the captaincy and dropped from the squad. The BCCI named Shreyas Iyer as the new T20I captain. The team suffered a whitewash 2-0 defeat to Ireland and lost 4-0 to England in the T20I series, with the only non-loss being a washed-out match.
Despite being out of the current plans, a BCCI source indicated that the doors for Suryakumar are still open. He remains eligible for selection if he scores runs consistently in domestic cricket. The board has not ruled out his return entirely. Suryakumar has also been working hard on his game and has expressed hope that things will fall into place if he continues to perform. The meeting with Jayasuriya may have been light-hearted. But this interaction reminded fans and followers of his potential to make a comeback.
Why Suryakumar Yadav Was Sacked Despite World Cup Success
Suryakumar Yadav lost his spot and his T20I captaincy in the Indian team due to a major dip in form. He previously helped India win four major titles, but his average frequently dropped into the 10s and 20s. He attempted a comeback in 2026 by scoring 484 runs in 14 innings with a fast strike rate of 161.33. However, this was still not enough to secure his place permanently.
The Gautam Gambhir-led management decided to move on from Suryakumar and bring Shreyas Iyer into the setup. Iyer had been out of the international T20I scene for a while, but his recent IPL performances and leadership abilities earned him a recall. He eventually replaced Yadav at number four in the batting order. Iyer has averaged 38.87 from 10 innings with a strike rate of 145.32.
He continues to work hard and has not been ruled out entirely by the BCCI. A source indicated that he can still return if he scores runs consistently in domestic cricket. But age is not on his side. He is 35 years old, and the door back into the international setup appears to be closing. If he is never picked again, his exit in June would mark the end of one of India’s most distinguished T20I careers. He has scored 3,272 runs in 113 T20Is, including four centuries and 25 half-centuries.
FAQs
Q. Who replaced Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain?
A. Shreyas Iyer replaced him as India’s T20I captain.
Q. How many T20I runs has Suryakumar scored?
A. Suryakumar has scored 3,272 runs in 113 T20Is.
Q. When did Suryakumar last play for India?
A. His last match was the 2026 T20 World Cup final.
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