Sunil Gavaskar Advises Suryakumar Yadav to Shelve Risky Shot Amidst Slump
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Sunil Gavaskar suggests Suryakumar Yadav temporarily avoid his signature pick-up shot due to his current struggles with form in T20Is for India.
Suryakumar Yadav's prolific IPL 2025 season, where he amassed over 700 runs for the Mumbai Indians, stands in stark contrast to his recent performances for the Indian national team. His T20I average this year languishes below 15, raising concerns about his form heading into crucial tournaments.
During the third T20I against South Africa, Yadav's struggles continued when he was dismissed attempting his favored pick-up shot. Aiming for a six over fine leg, he mistimed the ball, resulting in an easy catch for Ottneil Baartman off Lungi Ngidi's bowling.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar offered some straightforward advice in response to the dismissal. He suggested that Suryakumar Yadav should temporarily refrain from using the pick-up shot, keeping it in “cold storage” until his form improves.
Gavaskar, commentating on the match, noted, “It has been a very, very productive shot for him. Now, when you are not in form, it's only gone up in the air instead of going the distance, and well inside the boundary. So maybe, until he starts to get going, he should look to keep that shot in cold storage. Because it's getting him out and India doesn't require Suryakumar Yadav scoring only 12 runs.”
Yadav has now played 21 T20I innings for India without reaching a half-century. With the T20 World Cup scheduled for February-March next year in India and Sri Lanka, finding his form is a priority for the Indian captain.
**India's Series Lead**
India secured a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after defeating South Africa in the third T20I. Opting to bowl first, India dismissed South Africa for 117. Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh each claimed two wickets. South Africa's captain, Aiden Markram, scored a half-century but received little support from his teammates.
India successfully chased down the target with seven wickets remaining and 25 balls to spare. Abhishek Sharma scored 35, and Gill contributed 28 to the chase.
The fourth T20I between India and South Africa is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
