Cricket fever grips Nagpur as India and New Zealand open their five-T20I series on Wednesday. New Zealand’s ODI triumph fuels their fire, but India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, eyes a commanding start. The skipper’s bat is under intense scrutiny.
Team India’s T20 invincibility under SKY is unquestioned. His batting, however, tells a different tale—no 50-plus scores in 25 innings, eroding confidence.
2025 stats are sobering: 22 matches, 14-run average, no fifties. This malaise at the top is overburdening the lower order, threatening batting stability.
Suryakumar’s press candor highlights his run famine. This pre-World Cup series is prime for revival. Big scores could seal India’s edge and sharpen World Cup readiness.
NZ remains his happy hunting ground—284 runs in eight T20s (2021-23), averaging 47.33 at 153.51 SR, with a high of 111*.
T20 career: 2,788 runs in 93 innings across 99 games, including 4 hundreds and 21 fifties. Stakes soar for the 2026 WC series; shine to stay indispensable, stumble and risk ouster.
Nagpur awaits SKY’s renaissance—will he deliver?