"Suryakumar Yadav shouldn't come below No. 4" - Robin Uthappa on SKY's batting position after AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I

Former India player Robin Uthappa has opined that Suryakumar Yadav's ideal batting position in T20s is No. 3. He added that the Indian captain shouldn't bat below No. 4.

Suryakumar scored an unbeaten 39 off 24 deliveries at No. 3 in the first T20I against Australia in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29. The game didn't yield a result as rain stopped play after India had reached 97/1 in 9.4 overs while batting first.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Uthappa was asked about Suryakumar giving up his No. 3 batting position at times for a left-right batting combination in the team's interests.

"It's like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place because it's a decision where you need to see your performances and manage your captaincy as well. So it's a very difficult decision to make. However, I feel he should come in one position. In my opinion, there is no better position than No. 3 for Suryakumar in T20 cricket," the former India opener responded.

"If the top three gets set, you can bring flexibility after that. You can bring left-right combinations. In the Asia Cup, they probably decided that Tilak Varma would come at No.3 if a left-hander got out and Surya would come if a right-hander got out. That's still alright, but Suryakumar Yadav shouldn't come below No. 4. A top-order batter has to make a lot of adjustments if he has to bat below No. 4," he added.

Suryakumar Yadav has batted only six times below No. 4 in T20Is, scoring 140 runs at a strike rate of 155.55. While the Indian skipper has scored 820 runs at a strike rate of 159.22 in 29 T20I innings at No. 3, he has amassed 1,614 runs at a strike rate of 167.25 in 47 innings at No. 4.

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"Suryakumar Yadav being in form is very important for India" - Robin Uthappa on SKY being among the runs in AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I

Suryakumar Yadav struck three fours and two sixes during his unbeaten 39-run knock. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Robin Uthappa expressed happiness about Suryakumar Yadav's return to run-scoring ways in T20Is.

"Suryakumar Yadav being in form is very important for India. If he wants to win the World Cup and play for a long time, since he is playing only one format, his form and rhythm are very important. When you are such an important player, your form is also important for the team and for yourself," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that it is always a matter of time before a classy player like SKY, as he is fondly called, is back among the runs.

"It felt good that he came at No. 3 today and he is batting exceptionally well. If you give him room, he eats the bowler, and that's what happened after the first rain break. I don't think he is not in form. I think it is always a matter of time because this player has so much class," Uthappa observed.

Suryakumar Yadav has aggregated 139 runs at an average of 15.44 in 12 T20I innings in 2025. The unbeaten 39-run knock in the first T20I against Australia was just the second time he has scored more than 15 runs this year.