“Everyone is waiting for that one innings” - Tilak Varma backs out-of-form Suryakumar Yadav

Indian top-order batter Tilak Varma has backed out-of-form Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav to find his form ahead of the much-awaited ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka next year.

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While Suryakumar had 16 consecutive innings of at least 25 runs for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, his numbers in T20Is in 2025 are poor as he accumulated only 218 runs in 19 innings at 13.62, and without a single fifty.

"I was just saying (to him) that just middle a few balls, just wait and just be calm and take the few balls' time. If (the) team wants I can get going from the other side, (but) you just be on the crease and take some time. Take the feel of the middle of the bat, that's what I was talking to him,” Tilak Varma told the reporters after India’s 3-1 series win.

"If he gets that confidence then he will be... everyone has watched him, how he can play, so I think at this time if he takes a few balls at that moment, I would not say (to him to) just (try) going over the fielder,” he added.

"But I was just saying (to him) that try finding the gaps. If you can pierce the field well from your bat, you get a good feel about it and after that you are going to hit. It was not his day, but everyone is waiting for that one innings, if he gets that one innings then everyone knows how dangerous he can be," Tilak concluded.

India, after losing the toss, posted a whopping total of 231/5 in 20 overs. Tilak Varma was the star batter, scoring 73 runs in 42 balls, while Hardik Pandya was the wrecker-in-chief with 63 runs off 25 balls.

In the chase, South Africa could post only 201/8 in 20 overs, losing the game by 30 runs. Quinton de Kock was the star batter with 65 runs off 35 balls. Varun Chakvarathy scalped a match-winning four-fer.

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