Ajinkya Rahane, an experienced Indian batsman, pointed out that T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav did not enjoy a spectacular series with the bat against England earlier this year. The latter only achieved 28 runs in five innings, with a strike rate of 116.66. However, the former India Test captain noted Suryakumar’s triumphant return during the ensuing Indian Premier League (IPL), when he became the first hitter in tournament history to score 25 or more runs in 16 consecutive innings.
Suryakumar Yadav finished second in IPL 2025, scoring 717 runs at an average of 65.18 and a strike rate of 167.91.
Rahane regarded Suryakumar as a dangerous batter, but added that it will be interesting to see how he handles himself following sports hernia surgery in June.
“Didn’t have a good series against England, but came back to form in IPL with five fifties and finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with a healthy strike rate. We all know Surya is a dangerous batter. In this format, he has done really well. But it will be interesting to see how he goes about his batting, especially after the surgery,” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
He is a proactive captain: Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane praised Suryakumar for his captaincy, saying that he has been proactive with his decision-making. The former Kolkata Knight Riders captain also said that Suryakumar’s performance with the bat will be crucial for the Men in Blue during the Asia Cup.
“As a captain, he has been fantastic. He is a proactive captain, led the team really well in the past, but I feel, in this Asia Cup, his batting will be really important,” he added.
India find themselves in Group A in the Asia Cup. The defending champions will begin their campaign on Wednesday, September 10, against the UAE in Dubai. Pakistan and Oman are the other two teams in this group. Meanwhile, Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh.
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