Suryakumar Yadav Admits ODI Cricket Did Not Work for Him, Eyes T20 Comeback

Suryakumar Yadav has made a candid admission about his ODI career, revealing that he no longer wants to focus on the 50-over format despite making several attempts to adapt to it. The Indian batter said his priority is now to prepare for the format in which he feels most comfortable.

The 35-year-old has played 37 ODIs for India and was part of the squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, he struggled to replicate his outstanding T20I performances in the longer limited-overs format.

Suryakumar Yadav admits he tried hard to succeed in ODIs

Speaking during an interview with former India opener Aakash Chopra, Suryakumar explained that he has made considerable efforts to understand and adapt to ODI Cricket.

Despite those efforts, the Mumbai batter acknowledged that the format did not work out for him. He now wants to concentrate on playing the format he understands best and continue preparing for a potential return to the Indian team.

Suryakumar’s ODI career currently stands at 773 runs from 37 matches at an average of 25.76. His numbers are significantly below the level he has achieved in T20 cricket, where his aggressive stroke play and ability to change the momentum of an innings have made him a key player.

2023 World Cup proved difficult for Suryakumar

Suryakumar’s struggles in ODI cricket were particularly evident during India’s 2023 World Cup campaign. He featured in seven innings during the tournament but managed only 106 runs at an average of 17.66.

India reached the final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with Suryakumar coming into the contest under pressure to deliver a strong performance.

Suryakumar scored 18 in World Cup final

India lost early wickets during the final and Suryakumar walked out to bat at No. 7 when the team was 178/5 in 35.5 overs. The situation required him to provide acceleration and help India post a competitive total.

However, the right-handed batter was unable to make a major impact. He scored 18 runs from 28 deliveries before being caught behind off Josh Hazlewood in the 48th over while attempting a pull shot.

India were eventually bowled out for 240. Australia chased down the target in 43 overs, with Travis Head producing a match-winning 137 off 120 deliveries.

T20 cricket remains Suryakumar’s priority

With his ODI career failing to develop as expected, Suryakumar is now concentrating on T20 cricket. He has established himself as one of India’s most accomplished T20I batters and has also captained the national side in the format.

His recent comments indicate that his immediate goal is to continue training and prepare himself for a possible return to the Indian setup. Rather than continuing to force a transition to ODI cricket, Suryakumar appears determined to focus his efforts where he believes he can make the biggest impact.

The batter’s next challenge will be maintaining his fitness and form while waiting for another opportunity at the international level. His experience, T20 record and ability to perform under pressure could remain valuable if the selectors decide to bring him back into India’s plans.