Batting Coach Backs Suryakumar Yadav Amid Lean Patch

Sitanshu Kotak lauds T20I captain’s selfless approach, urges patience as India prepares for the third T20I against England

Rajkot (Gujarat), January 28: As Indian T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav navigates a challenging phase with the bat, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has expressed unwavering faith in the dynamic batter’s ability and selflessness, emphasizing that Suryakumar’s focus remains on the team’s success.

Since India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, Suryakumar has struggled to replicate his explosive form. In 12 matches since the victory in Barbados, he has scored 242 runs at an average of 23, with just two fifties to his name.

During the South Africa series, Suryakumar even moved from his preferred number three position to number four to accommodate Tilak Varma and maintain team balance. However, his performances in the ongoing T20I series against England have been underwhelming, with just 12 runs in two games at an average of six.

“Playing for the Team”

Ahead of the third T20I in Rajkot, Kotak voiced strong support for Suryakumar’s aggressive batting style, acknowledging the demands of modern T20 cricket.
“He has been performing, but sometimes I feel we expect too much. The game has become so aggressive, and that’s the intent we have to play with in T20 cricket. There will be times when batters get out because they’re playing fearless and selfless cricket,” Kotak said during a pre-match press conference.

He further highlighted Suryakumar’s leadership role in instilling a team-first mindset among the batters.
“He’s definitely someone who plays for the team. He’s selfless and consistently tells the group of batters to adopt the same mindset. The way he’s batting now is in the same flow as before when he was scoring runs freely,” Kotak added.

India’s Aggressive Approach

Kotak underlined that India’s batting philosophy centers on aggression and high-scoring targets, emphasizing that calculated risks are a necessary component of this approach.
“If you want to score 200 or 225, you can’t play carefully and save your wicket. Both things won’t go hand in hand,” he said.

As the series heads to Rajkot, India holds a 2-0 lead over England in the five-match series, with the team relying on their captain to rediscover his rhythm and lead from the front.