“Everyone is waiting for that one innings” - Tilak Varma defends out-of-form Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav

Indian in-form batter Tilak Varma has defended the under-performing Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, adding that he is one good innings away from hitting good form ahead of the much-awaited ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Suryakumar Yadav’s numbers in T20Is in 2025 are poor as he could amass only 218 runs in 19 innings at 13.62, and without a single fifty. In the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa, he could score only 34 runs from four matches at an average of 8.5.

"I was just saying (to him) that just middle a few balls, just wait and just be calm and take the few balls' time. If (the) team wants I can get going from the other side, (but) you just be on the crease and take some time. Take the feel of the middle of the bat, that's what I was talking to him,” Tilak Varma told the reporters after India’s 3-1 series win.

"If he gets that confidence then he will be... everyone has watched him, how he can play, so I think at this time if he takes a few balls at that moment, I would not say (to him to) just (try) going over the fielder,” he added.

"But I was just saying (to him) that try finding the gaps. If you can pierce the field well from your bat, you get a good feel about it and after that you are going to hit. It was not his day, but everyone is waiting for that one innings, if he gets that one innings then everyone knows how dangerous he can be," Tilak concluded.

Moving into the details of the fifth T20I, India, after losing the toss, posted a daunting total of 231/5 in 20 overs. Tilak Varma was the star batter, scoring 73 runs in 42 balls, while Hardik Pandya was the explosive batter with 63 runs off 25 balls.

In response, South Africa scored only 201/8 in 20 overs, losing the game by 30 runs. Opening batter Quinton de Kock was the star batter with 65 runs off 35 balls, but his knock went in vain. Varun Chakvarathy scalped a match-winning four-wicket haul.

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