Former India skipper Rohit Sharma recently underlined the importance of current captain Suryakumar Yadav in the lead-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup. The title-winning leader emphasised that Yadav’s form will be vital to India’s batting lineup if the defending champions are to successfully retain their crown.
Rohit’s comments came ahead of India’s T20I series against New Zealand. Suryakumar ended 2025 with a half-century in the shortest format, but his overall numbers raised concerns. The right-handed batter managed 218 runs across 21 matches (19 innings), averaging just 13.62 with a strike rate of 123.16. His most recent fifty came 23 innings ago, against Bangladesh in October 2024.
With uncertainty surrounding the future of in-form Tilak Varma due to injury ahead of the ICC tournament, Suryakumar’s role at the top of the order becomes even more crucial. In a video shared on X by Star Sports, Rohit Sharma said:
“It’s not about the captain getting in form or not. If a player is not in form. The seven or eight batters we have, out of that, we are getting one less batter. The main batting power that we have, obviously, if you leave one out, then it will not be as effective as it should be. If Surya doesn’t play well, the batting lineup suffers.”
Rohit Sharma Hails Suryakumar Yadav’s Leadership Ahead Of T20 World Cup 2026
However, Rohit praised Yadav’s leadership and man-management skills in the build-up to the marquee tournament, adding:
“I think Surya has a lot of understanding regarding the game and the players who are playing with him, how to get the best out of them.”
“SKY knows the game. He knows the players.” 💙@ImRo45 highlights @surya_14kumar's form and impact, calling him a critical batter whose presence brings balance and confidence to India’s batting lineup. 🔑🔥
Why is SKY central to India’s success on the biggest stage? 🤔
Watch it… pic.twitter.com/JEXFzIPhWA— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 20, 2026
Besides Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar has also picked up an injury in the lead-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup. The BCCI has announced that Ravi Bishnoi will come in for Sundar for the T20I series against New Zealand. Should Sundar be unable to regain full fitness in time for the global event, India’s batting depth could take a significant hit.
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