IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya worried about Suryakumar Yadav’s form? MI skipper drops a bombshell
Published - 19 Mar 2025, 05:59 PM | Updated - 19 Mar 2025, 06:05 PM
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Mumbai Indians captain and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has extended his support to his teammate Suryakumar Yadav despite the Indian skipper’s recent struggles with the bat ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025), starting on March 22.
Addressing the media alongside the Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene, Hardik Pandya has emphasized that there is no reason to be concerned about Suryakumar’s form, given his history of delivering match-winning performances for the franchise in the IPL.
Hardik Pandya dismisses concerns over Suryakumar Yadav’s form ahead of the IPL 2025
Suryakumar had a tough outing in the recent five-match T20I series against England. His scores of 2, 0, 14, 12, and 0 in the England series raised concerns about his rhythm. The Indian skipper continued to struggle in domestic cricket, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
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His extended lean patch sparked questions about Suryakumar’s ability to regain his form with the bat. However, Pandya remains unfazed, backing Suryakumar to bounce back strongly.
The MI skipper has pointed out that Suryakumar, who is known for his aggressive stroke play and ability to turn games around, has been a key player for both India and the five-time IPL champions over the years.
We're not worried about Suryakumar Yadav's form: Hardik Pandya
His presence in the squad is expected to bring a positive impact, and the team management believes that a platform like the IPL, where Suryakumar has thrived in the past, will help him regain his confidence and rhythm. Pandya also said Suryakumar will once again prove his worth in the IPL 2025.
Hardik Pandya said at the press conference, “See, Sky, we're not worried about that if that's the question. He has scored a lot of runs for a lot of years. I am not really concerned about his form or anything. For me, he has batted brilliantly. He has been a match-winner for India and Mumbai Indians, and he always brings energy to the team. So yeah, I am not concerned about his form.”
We are not very concerned about SKY: Mahela Jayawardene
On the other hand, Mahela Jayawardene said, “We are not very concerned about SKY. He had a couple of practice games for us, and sometimes, the way he has played and how he has gone about his game, it’s fantastic to watch. When he fails, we all feel, ‘Okay, he’s human as well.’ So, we just take it at that and allow him to enjoy his batting out there for us…”
Notably, Mumbai Indians will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign with a thrilling showdown against Chennai Super Kings on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. However, they will be without their regular skipper Hardik Pandya, who is serving a one-match suspension due to a slow over-rate violation from last season.
In his absence, Suryakumar will lead MI in the high-stakes opening clash against CSK in the IPL. This match will be a big test for Mumbai as they look to start strong against their biggest rivals, Chennai.
