The Asia Cup 2025 final is set to bring another high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash on 28th September, but questions around Suryakumar Yadav’s form have been doing the rounds.
The Indian captain has not fired with the bat in this tournament, and many have started pointing to his dip in numbers since taking up leadership.
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But Ravichandran Ashwin has stood up for him, asking everyone to stop putting pressure on Surya.
Why Suryakumar Yadav’s form is under scrutiny before Asia Cup 2025 final
Suryakumar has looked out of rhythm in recent matches. In his last nine T20I innings, he has scored just 87 runs at an average of 12.
In this Asia Cup, he has made 71 runs in five innings, with his best being an unbeaten 47 against Pakistan in the group stage. Against Sri Lanka, he managed only 12 runs from 13 balls.
For a player known to dominate bowlers, this run has raised doubts about whether captaincy has affected his batting.
What Ravichandran Ashwin said about Suryakumar Yadav’s batting ahead of Asia Cup 2025 final
Ashwin strongly defended the skipper, saying that T20 cricket is not about averages but about impact. He praised Surya’s intent with the bat and explained that his high-risk approach is what makes him special.
"Regarding Suryakumar, people say his average dropped after captaincy. But with that, a new brand of cricket started. I don't want him to be averaging 40. Always in T20 cricket we sink thinking about this average. Surya as a captain is playing a high-risk game which is extremely amazing," Ashwin said.
"Rohit showed this, putting no price on his wicket, always committing to aggression. Surya’s following this, coming in at different slots, not always at three," he added.
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He added that even if Surya averages 25 but scores at a strike rate of 170, it is far more valuable than a safe 40 at a slower rate.
He urged fans to support Surya instead of doubting him. He believes that the attacking mindset is crucial in T20 cricket.
"If Surya averages 25 but strikes at 170, I’m much happier with that than him doing 40 at a lower strike rate. Don’t get after him for this, don't put pressure. T20 cricket needs impact, not average."
With the final against Pakistan around the corner, it will be a chance for Surya to answer critics not just with his leadership but also with the bat.
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