India vs England: What is not working right for Suryakumar Yadav?

Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I skipper, endured another disappointing outing with the bat during the third T20I of the ongoing five-match series against England. The star batter was dismissed for just 14 runs off 7 balls, a brief stay at the crease that ended in yet another low score for him in the series. His departure came at a crucial time, as India was chasing a target of 171 set by England. Despite the best efforts of other batters, Yadav's early dismissal proved to be a blow to India’s chase, with the team ultimately falling short by 26 runs. This loss marked India’s first setback in the series, and it came at a time when the team was looking to take control.

India vs England: Suryakumar Yadav is definitely struggling for form in T20I cricket

Suryakumar’s poor form with the bat in this match added to the growing concerns about his consistency, especially as he had already struggled in the previous games. As the Indian captain, much was expected from him, but he has yet to make a significant impact in the series so far. With the loss in Rajkot, India’s lead in the series was reduced to 2-1, making the remaining matches crucial for both teams. Suryakumar will be hoping to regain his form in the upcoming games and lead his side to a series victory, while also silencing the growing questions around his own performances.

Former English cricketer Michael Vaughan offered his insights on what it truly means to be "aggressive" in the 20-over format, emphasizing that aggression should be about choosing the right balls and the right moments to attack, rather than attempting to hit every delivery out of the park. According to Vaughan, the key to successful batting in T20 cricket is playing smart, calculated shots rather than going for every ball. He explained that a batter's ability to assess the situation and pick the right balls to target is what separates the best from the rest in the format.

Vaughan also addressed the recent form of India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, noting that the star batter has not been contributing as expected in the recent matches. While Suryakumar has been regarded as one of the most explosive players in T20 cricket, Vaughan pointed out that his recent performances have been underwhelming, and he hasn't been able to make a significant impact in the series so far. With the series in the balance, Vaughan suggested that Suryakumar needs to find his form quickly if India is to maintain their edge and secure the series win.

"When you say be aggressive all the time, it is choosing the right ball to be aggressive to. Clearly, you cannot hit every single ball to the boundary. For India to be the team they are, they are the world champions for a reason, they need their best players in form,"  said former England captain Michael Vaughan during a recent conversation. 

"The only way the players get into good form is by spending time in the middle. At the minute, Suryakumar Yadav is going out there, hitting a few good shots, and before you blink, he is back on his way to the dugout, without making too much of a contribution," he added.

India failed to chase down the target of 172 in the third T20I, finishing at 145/9 after 20 overs, handing England a 26-run victory. Despite a solid knock from Hardik Pandya, who top-scored with 40 runs off 35 balls, India’s batting faltered. The chase never gained momentum, as the team struggled to build partnerships. Apart from Pandya, only Abhishek Sharma managed to get past the 20-run mark, scoring 22 runs. The rest of the Indian batting line-up crumbled under pressure, with wickets falling at regular intervals. The loss marked India’s first in the series, leaving them with a 2-1 lead over England heading into the final two matches.

England, on the other hand, fought back strongly after a middle-order collapse left them in a precarious position. At one point, the visitors were struggling to post a competitive total, but they recovered well, reaching 171 thanks to contributions from their lower order. The bowling unit then put in a disciplined performance to restrict India’s chase. England’s bowlers, led by the likes of Adil Rashid and Jamie Overton, maintained pressure throughout the innings, ensuring India never got close to the target. The collective effort with both bat and ball helped England seal a crucial win, keeping the series alive with two games remaining.

"If there was ever a time for him to just step back and go from fifth gear to third gear, just to give himself a chance to get in, it was probably now. You're not chasing 210-220, the target was a reasonable one, just to play sensibly and chase it down," Vaughan noted.