Suryakumar Yadav had a lighthearted take on his form as he prepared for the IPL 2025 season, joking that he expects a turnaround during the tournament. The India T20I captain faced a tough outing in his last T20 assignment against England, managing just 28 runs across five matches in the series. However, his Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya backed him in the pre-tournament press conference, reinforcing confidence in his abilities ahead of the IPL.
Speaking at the CSK vs MI pre-match press conference, Suryakumar made a playful remark about his recent struggles, assuring fans that he believes his rhythm will return. He explained his decision to bat at No. 4 for Team India, allowing Tilak Varma to take the No. 3 spot and make an impact. He emphasized that batting position doesn't hold much significance for him and that he is always willing to adapt to what the team needs.
"IPL, the form has been good (laughs). See, the thing is, it's always good to have that impact at the top, and I've seen that guy. He's been working really hard. So for Team India, I thought it will be better if he can bat number 3 and I can take the responsibility at number 4 because, for me, I think batting number doesn't matter," said Suryakumar.
The 34-year-old reaffirmed that the Mumbai Indians batting order would be flexible throughout the season, allowing players to adapt based on the match situation. He maintained confidence in his game, stating that he remains committed to his process and trusts that runs will eventually come.
"I try and bat the same way and try and make that impact whenever there is an opportunity, and so does he. So you might see guys being flexible during this season, during stints with the IPL and we are all, everyone is flexible like even I can bat at 3, I can bat at 5. Tilak can bat at 5. So, it's that flexibility we have in our team and with the form, I think, the harder you work, the luckier you get. If it has to come, it will come any time, but I am actually a process-oriented man. I love to work hard in the nets, and if the runs have to follow, they'll follow quickly some day or the other," he added.
Suryakumar had an impressive run in IPL 2024, scoring 345 runs in 11 matches. With the Mumbai Indians boasting a strong lineup and a deep batting order, the franchise will hope their star batter rediscovers his best form quickly. Fans will be eager to see if Suryakumar’s belief in his process translates into big performances as the season unfolds.
