NewKerala.com

Ponting's Key Advice to Suryakumar: "Trust Yourself" for T20 World Cup

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has offered crucial advice to out-of-form Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the T20 World Cup. Ponting emphasized that Suryakumar must trust himself and focus on scoring runs rather than the fear of dismissal. He compared Suryakumar's best mindset to that of Travis Head, where playing without fear is key. Ponting expressed confidence that the proven match-winner can rediscover his dominant form on the world stage.

Key Points: Ricky Ponting's Advice to Suryakumar Yadav on Regaining Form

  • Ponting backs Suryakumar to regain form
  • Advises to play without fear of getting out
  • Notes Suryakumar's recent dip in performance
  • Highlights his proven world-class T20 ability
2 min read

"Don't think of....": Ponting's advice to out-of-form Suryakumar to T20 World Cup

Ricky Ponting backs Suryakumar Yadav, advising the Indian captain to trust his game and not fear getting out ahead of the T20 World Cup.

"Think about scoring runs, do not think about getting out. - Ricky Ponting"

Mumbai, January 5

Former Australian legend Ricky Ponting backed Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav to regain form ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup this year, saying that he should "trust himself and not think about getting out".

Suryakumar, once ruling the T20 cricket with his 360-degree hitting and relentless consistency, experienced a sharp dip in form last year, and the batter looked like a shell of his usual dominant self last year. In 2025, while Surya did not lack as a leader, he scored just 218 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.62, with a modest strike rate of 123.16.

Speaking of Surya's form in the latest episode of ICC Review, Ponting said, "That is as big a surprise for me, just looking at his recent form. He is such a solid and consistent contributor for India in T20 cricket for a long time and just hasn't been able to find it of late."

"He is an interesting one because when I have seen him play his best, he has taken six or eight or 10 balls to get going and then just lets it all go," said Ponting.

The former Australian captain, however, backed Yadav to return to his best and rediscover the fearless brand of cricket he is renowned for.

"He plays all of his shots and backs himself, and a bit like Travis Head, where it almost looks like they don't ever fear getting out," Ponting noted.

"That's what I would say to him. I would be saying, think about scoring runs, do not think about getting out."

"Trust yourself, back yourself. You are proven to be as good as anybody in the world in the T20 format and go and prove it to everybody once again," he concluded.

India is placed in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States and will start its campaign against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai.

India's squad for T20 World Cup 2026 and New Zealand T20I series: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan (wk).

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

A
Ananya R
The pressure of captaincy might be getting to him. It's a different ball game when you're leading the side. Hope he finds the right balance soon. The World Cup is around the corner!
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, I think we need to be realistic. An average of 13.62 in a year is alarming, not just a "dip". Maybe the team management should consider other in-form players if this continues. We can't afford sentiment in a World Cup.
S
Sarah B
Great advice from a legend. It's all mental. The skills are clearly still there. Sometimes you just need someone like Ponting to remind you of your own greatness. Back yourself, SKY!
K
Karthik V
Form is temporary, class is permanent. He's a match-winner on his day. The comparison with Travis Head is apt - both are game-changers. Just one big innings and he'll be back to his 360-degree best. 🤞
P
Priya S
The Indian fan pressure is immense. Everyone expects him to hit a six every ball. Hope he blocks out the noise and focuses on the process. We are all with you, Captain!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50