“Then he needs to bat differently” - Sanjay Bangar offers a piece of advice to Suryakumar Yadav on how to get his form back ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Sanjay Bangar advises T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav to bat at a fixed No. 3 spot to regain form. Bangar attributes SKY's slump (14.35 avg) to the pressure of India's flexible middle order, contrasting it with his stellar IPL form at No. 3. He warned: "Then he needs to bat differently."

14 Dec 2025 13:55 IST

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Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Bangar has suggested that the Indian T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav should come up the batting order at No.3 instead of being flexible in the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa.

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Speaking exclusively on Star Sports, Bangar has asserted that the more time Suryakumar spends at the crease, he could convert his runs in a better fashion. Notably, the Indian team management has kept the No.3 to No. 8 positions completely flexible as per the game situation.

"It's also about the team's thought process. You want to keep the No. 3 to No. 7 or No. 8 positions flexible. However, MI gave him a stable position. If he came at No. 3, he was fixed at No. 3, no matter the match or the situation. The quality player he is, the more balls he plays, he can convert them in a better fashion," Sanjay Bangar said on Star Sports.

"He shouldn't have the pressure of wickets behind him. Then he needs to bat differently. The earlier he comes at No. 3, the better it is. He scored runs at an average of 65 and a strike rate of 168 in 16 innings (in the IPL). However, if you see his international innings, it's a massive fall. He has an average of 14 and a strike rate of 126," he added.

Suryakumar's form has turned out to be a major concern for the Indian team ahead of the mega event in India and Sri Lanka. In the ongoing calendar year, Surya has played 19 T20Is and has accumulated 201 runs at an average of 14.35, with the highest score of an unbeaten 47.

India will play eight more games before the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. While three games are remaining against South Africa, they will next lock horns with New Zealand at home in a five-match T20I series in 2026.

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