"Runs haven't come before and after the IPL" - Aakash Chopra on Indian batting star ahead of AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I

Former India player Aakash Chopra has noted that Suryakumar Yadav needs to return to run-scoring ways in the upcoming T20I series against Australia. He highlighted that the Indian captain, who was prolific in IPL 2025, hasn't been among the runs in international cricket this year.

India will face Australia in a five-match T20I series, with the first game scheduled to be played in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29. Suryakumar will lead the 16-member Indian squad, with Shubman Gill as his deputy.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener expressed hope about Suryakumar regaining his IPL 2025 form in the T20I series against Australia.

"Suryakumar Yadav is fresh from an Asia Cup victory, but it's been 16 international games and he hasn't scored a half-century. This is the place where it must change. He will have to change it here and I feel it will change as well because the pitches in Dubai especially, where we were playing the Asia Cup, weren't suiting him," Chopra said (1:45).

"They were extremely slow pitches and the ball wasn't coming onto the bat. Runs haven't come before and after the IPL. However, in the IPL, the pitches are good, he plays for Mumbai, he hit a lot, and was making 30-plus scores consistently in every game. That form might return now," he added.

Suryakumar Yadav has managed just 100 runs at a paltry average of 11.11 in 11 T20I innings this year. On the flip side, the Mumbai Indians (MI) batter was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2025, amassing 717 runs at an average of 65.18 in 16 innings.

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"This will be a litmus test for Abhishek Sharma" - Aakash Chopra on AUS vs IND 2025 T20Is

Abhishek Sharma was in scintillating form in the Asia Cup 2025. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the T20I series against Australia will be a massive test for Abhishek Sharma.

"This will be a litmus test for Abhishek Sharma. He had gone to South Africa, and I will be very honest, South Africa's team was okay. Abhishek Sharma was okay-okay there, but his stocks have risen after that. He has launched his IPO in a way, everyone has bought his shares, and the valuation has been very good," he said (3:55).

While acknowledging that the left-handed opener has been prolific with the bat lately, the cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that the series against Australia would pose a different challenge.

"England got hit a lot and then he set the world on fire in the Asia Cup. Whether it was a premier fast bowler or not, he made everyone lick dust. Australia will present a different challenge. It is a very important phase and series in Abhishek Sharma's life. These five matches will tell us a lot about Abhishek Sharma, the batter," Chopra observed.

Abhishek Sharma has amassed 849 runs at a strike rate of 196.07 in 23 T20I innings. He has smashed 593 runs at an even better strike rate of 208.80 in 12 T20I innings in 2025.