"It's a massive fall" - Sanjay Bangar on Team India star after IND vs SA 2025 2nd T20I

Former India player Sanjay Bangar has noted that Suryakumar Yadav has had contrasting numbers in IPL 2025 and T20Is this year. He opined that the lack of a stable batting position has contributed to the Indian captain's indifferent numbers in international cricket.

South Africa set India a 214-run target in the second T20I in New Chandigarh on Thursday, December 11. Suryakumar was dismissed for a four-ball five in the chase as the Men in Blue were bundled out for 162, losing the game by 51 runs.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Bangar was asked about the reason behind the discrepancy between Suryakumar's returns in T20Is and IPL 2025.

"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," the former India batting coach responded.

"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," Bangar added.

Suryakumar Yadav has aggregated 201 runs at an average of 14.35 in 17 T20I innings in 2025. On the flip side, the Mumbai Indians (MI) batter had amassed 717 runs at an average of 65.18 in 16 innings in IPL 2025.

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"He was tentative" - Sanjay Bangar on Suryakumar Yadav's dismissal in IND vs SA 2025 2nd T20I

Suryakumar Yadav was caught behind off Marco Jansen's bowling in the second T20I against South Africa. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Sanjay Bangar attributed Suryakumar Yadav's dismissal in the second T20I against South Africa to tentativeness and improper footwork.

"It's not right for him either, and if you want the Indian team's success, the captain needs to be in form. If you see here, how late the ball hit his bat. He was tentative. The footwork wasn't good," he said.

The former India all-rounder added that SKY, as Suryakumar is fondly called, needs to score runs to regain his confidence before the 2026 T20 World Cup.

"It's a sign of an out-of-form player, who might be batting well in the nets, but until you score runs in international cricket, you don't regain your confidence. We want a confident Suryakumar Yadav leading into the World Cup," Bangar observed.

Suryakumar Yadav hasn't scored a T20I fifty in 2025. He has an unbeaten 47 as his best effort and has crossed the 25-run mark just twice.