Suryakumar Yadav batting performance as T20I captain, Why is SKY Struggling?

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Suryakumar Yadav batting performance as T20I captain: Since the stylish Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav, also known as 'Mr. 360', took over as captain in T20 International cricket, Team India has performed exceptionally well. Under his leadership, India has won several bilateral series and has a win percentage of over 80%.

But, behind this rosy picture of the team's success, one question has been constantly discussed: has the responsibility of captaincy negatively impacted his individual batting performance?

In this blog, we will delve into Suryakumar Yadav's batting performance as a T20I captain and its impact on his game.

Suryakumar Yadav's performance before captaincy

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Before assuming the captaincy, Suryakumar Yadav was one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world in the T20I format. His average was above 43 and his strike rate was above 170. He possessed the ability to play shots to all corners of the field and regularly delivered match-winning performances for the team. His consistency and ability to finish matches made him special.

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Suryakumar Yadav T20I Captaincy Batting Record: A comparative analysis

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Suryakumar has captained India in 35 T20I matches so far. His batting stats in these matches are as follows:

StatisticPre-CaptaincyAs CaptainMatches5035Total Runs1,841726Batting Average43.4025.03Strike Rate172.91~153.24Centuries31Half-centuries154

These figures clearly show that his average has dropped significantly by about 18 points since becoming captain. His strike rate has also declined, although it remains above 150, which is considered excellent in T20 cricket.

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Why is Suryakumar Yadav struggling with his batting now?

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A few key reasons could be behind the decline in Suryakumar Yadav's batting average:

• Pressure and Responsibility: Captaining a country in international cricket is a significant responsibility. Formulating strategies, rotating bowlers, and managing the team during a match consumes mental energy, which can impact his batting.
• Changing Batting Order: As captain, he has often altered his batting order to suit the team's needs, disrupting his natural rhythm.
• Opposing Teams' Strategies: Given Suryakumar Yadav's success, opposing teams have developed elaborate plans against him. Special changes have been made to his field placement and bowling to contain him.

Exceptions and highlights

Although his average has dropped, that doesn't mean he hasn't performed well. As captain, he has scored a century and four half-centuries. In some innings, he has shown glimpses of his old "Mr. 360" form, proving his class is still intact.

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