'Suryakumar Yadav is not struggling': Ex-Mumbai Indians star drops shocking statement

Former India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel made a massive claim on the T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav amid his poor form in the T20 Internationals.

Parthiv Patel bluntly said that Suryakumar Yadav is not struggling in the middle and he is not out of form; it's just that the right-handed batsman has not been able to score runs.

You will want the captain to score runs - Parthiv Patel on Suryakumar Yadav

When Suryakumar Yadav was chosen as the India T20I skipper following the retirement of Rohit Sharma from the format, he was ruling the 20-over cricket.

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Suryakumar was regarded as the best batsman in the world in T20 cricket, and he had remained at the No.1 position in the ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings and also won back-to-back ICC Men's T20I Player of the Year awards.

However, since taking over the leadership, Suryakumar Yadav's form has gone downhill, and he has not been able to score big for his team. As captain, he has played 33 matches and scored 714 runs at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 154.54. However, he has not scored a half-century since last year.

In the ongoing five-match T20I series against the Australia National Cricket Team, the Indian skipper has registered scores of 39*, 1, 24, and 20, which are not enough from his standards.

Speaking about Suryakumar Yadav's form, the former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel said that Suryakumar Yadav needs to start scoring runs, but mentioned that his lack of runs not affecting his captaincy is a good sign.

"Suryakumar was batting consistently at number three. Now his positions are different as the team's thinking has changed and that factor has to be seen. However, that does not undermine the thing that he will have to score runs. You will want the captain to score runs. It is not affecting his captaincy and that is seen on the ground," he said on Star Sports.

Here there is lack of runs, there is no struggle while batting - Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel added that the 35-year-old batter has not been struggling in the middle, even on the difficult pitches. He said:

"There is either lack of runs or lack of form. Here there is lack of runs, there is no struggle while batting. Even on bad pitches he is not struggling. So he just needs one good innings and then everything will click."

Notably, India have been playing musical chairs with the No.3 position in T20I cricket as in the first and third games, Suryakumar Yadav batted at that spot, and in other matches Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson.

"Who will bat at number three? No one has been able to solve it," Parthiv Patel said when asked about three things to look forward to ahead of the series finale.

I think he is due a big innings - Varun Aaron

Formerly, India pacer Varun Aaron, meanwhile, said that Suryakumar is due a big innings and needs to score it very soon.

"I think he is due a big innings. A big fifty, a big hundred. It has been too long he has gone without a big score," he stated.

"Bumrah has been bowling so well in the powerplay. Just needs a few early breakthroughs, and we can see a Bumah five-fer; you never know."

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