Dropped from T20I squad, Suryakumar Yadav sends reminder with Mumbai T20 League blitz
Dropped from India's T20I squads for Ireland and England, Suryakumar Yadav struck an unbeaten 72 in the Mumbai T20 League at Wankhede. The innings revived his run of form and renewed focus on his place in India's plans.
Suryakumar Yadav has sent a roaring reminder to the national selectors that you simply cannot keep a good player down for long. Just days after losing his spot in the Indian team, the 35-year-old middle-order batter bounced back in style with a jaw-dropping batting masterclass at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
The explosive knock came at a crucial time for the batsman, who was recently dropped from India’s upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England. With the national selectors choosing a new direction, the man fondly known as "SKY" chose the local stage to prove he still has plenty of fire left in his belly.
"Playing at the Wankhede always feels special, and it was great to get some runs under my belt to help the team get across the line."
Chasing a modest target of 153 against the Maratha Royals, Suryakumar walked out to bat at number four and completely took the game away from the opposition. He remained unbeaten to guide his franchise, the Triumph Knights North East Mumbai, to a convincing victory with four full overs to spare, snapping their painful three-match losing streak in the process.
SKY BLASTS EXPLOSIVE FIFTY AT WANKHEDE
Suryakumar looked in vintage touch from the very first ball, putting on a spectacular show for the local fans. He hammered a brutal 72 runs off just 36 deliveries, dissecting the field with 13 boundaries and a signature six. The effortless chase gave the Triumph Knights their very first win of the new season.
This wasn't his only recent contribution either; the batter had already showed signs of a return to form on Saturday with a quick-fire 48 off 24 balls against the SoBO Mumbai Falcons. These performances are a huge relief for his supporters, especially after he started the local tournament with disappointing scores of 19 and 4.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR SURYAKUMAR YADAV?
Suryakumar's sudden omission from the national squad was a massive shock to the cricketing world, particularly because he led India to a T20 World Cup title just a few months ago. However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar decided it was time for a change, naming Shreyas Iyer as India’s new T20I captain following a dip in SKY's international numbers.
Since taking over the full-time captaincy in July 2024, Suryakumar had struggled to match his usual high standards. Over 45 matches, he managed 932 runs at an average of 25.88, alongside a quiet domestic season where he scored 270 runs in 13 matches.
Despite the recent dip in form, Suryakumar's overall career record remains absolutely world-class. He still holds the record as the only player to score T20I centuries in four different countries—India, England, New Zealand, and South Africa. By showing his trademark flair at the Wankhede once again, the master of 360-degree batting has made it clear that he is ready to fight his way back into the national colors.
Suryakumar Yadav has sent a roaring reminder to the national selectors that you simply cannot keep a good player down for long. Just days after losing his spot in the Indian team, the 35-year-old middle-order batter bounced back in style with a jaw-dropping batting masterclass at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
The explosive knock came at a crucial time for the batsman, who was recently dropped from India’s upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England. With the national selectors choosing a new direction, the man fondly known as "SKY" chose the local stage to prove he still has plenty of fire left in his belly.
"Playing at the Wankhede always feels special, and it was great to get some runs under my belt to help the team get across the line."
Chasing a modest target of 153 against the Maratha Royals, Suryakumar walked out to bat at number four and completely took the game away from the opposition. He remained unbeaten to guide his franchise, the Triumph Knights North East Mumbai, to a convincing victory with four full overs to spare, snapping their painful three-match losing streak in the process.
SKY BLASTS EXPLOSIVE FIFTY AT WANKHEDE
Suryakumar looked in vintage touch from the very first ball, putting on a spectacular show for the local fans. He hammered a brutal 72 runs off just 36 deliveries, dissecting the field with 13 boundaries and a signature six. The effortless chase gave the Triumph Knights their very first win of the new season.
This wasn't his only recent contribution either; the batter had already showed signs of a return to form on Saturday with a quick-fire 48 off 24 balls against the SoBO Mumbai Falcons. These performances are a huge relief for his supporters, especially after he started the local tournament with disappointing scores of 19 and 4.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR SURYAKUMAR YADAV?
Suryakumar's sudden omission from the national squad was a massive shock to the cricketing world, particularly because he led India to a T20 World Cup title just a few months ago. However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar decided it was time for a change, naming Shreyas Iyer as India’s new T20I captain following a dip in SKY's international numbers.
Since taking over the full-time captaincy in July 2024, Suryakumar had struggled to match his usual high standards. Over 45 matches, he managed 932 runs at an average of 25.88, alongside a quiet domestic season where he scored 270 runs in 13 matches.
Despite the recent dip in form, Suryakumar's overall career record remains absolutely world-class. He still holds the record as the only player to score T20I centuries in four different countries—India, England, New Zealand, and South Africa. By showing his trademark flair at the Wankhede once again, the master of 360-degree batting has made it clear that he is ready to fight his way back into the national colors.
