![Suryakumar Yadav with Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1787891619057_SuryakumarYadavwithPandyaandKishan.jpg?type=hq)
Suryakumar Yadav with Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan [Source: AFP]
Suryakumar Yadav, the former captain of India's T20I team, who also became the father of a baby girl a few months ago, has recently spoken about his return to international cricket while attending the Pro Govinda League 2026.
For the unaware, Yadav lost his captaincy and his place in the Indian T20I setup after IPL 2026, with Shreyas Iyer replacing him in the squad that toured Ireland and England.
As things stand, he has been out of cricketing action since the IPL, but, in his own words, he is ready to make India comeback very soon.
Suryakumar Yadav hopeful of India return
In a conversation during the Pro Kabaddi League, Suryakumar Yadav was optimistic about returning to the national team if “everything falls into place”.
When asked if he still has hopes of making a comeback for the Men in Blue, Yadav shared his optimism and explained how he has been working hard to ensure that no opportunity goes to waste.
“Look, I’m putting in all the hard work and doing everything I can. If things go well, then everything will fall into place,” Suryakumar, the brand ambassador of the Pro Kabaddi League, replied when asked about his plans for a comeback to the national team, as quoted by PTI.
The multiple-trophy winner for India is currently in Mumbai for the Pro Govinda League Season 4.
Ahead of that, he visited London, with his training and workout videos continuing to appear on his social media handles, underlining the fact that he remains in the rhythm of the game and is working hard to make an impact whenever an opportunity arises.
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Why was Suryakumar Yadav sidelined from India's captaincy?
Despite winning four major titles for the national team, Suryakumar had to give up his captaincy amid a dip in his performances since 2024.
His average fell into the 20s and 10s, with a remarkable comeback in 2026, when he scored 484 runs from 14 innings at a strike rate of 161.33.
However, that was not enough, as he remained inconsistent with the bat, with multiple innings ending in single-digit scores.
Hence, with his position at No. 3 or No. 4 under threat, the Gautam Gambhir-led management opted to move on from Suryakumar and bring Shreyas Iyer into the setup.
Iyer had also been out of the international T20I scene for a considerable period. However, his recent exploits in the IPL and his leadership abilities brought him back into the setup, eventually sidelining Yadav from India's T20I plans.
How realistic are SKY's chances to return to India's T20I setup?
Shreyas Iyer, the current India captain, has replaced Yadav at No. 4. So far, Iyer's performances have been impressive, with an average of 38.87 from 10 innings and a healthy strike rate of 145.32.
More importantly, Iyer has stepped up in crucial situations to contribute to the team's success, something Suryakumar struggled to do consistently for a prolonged period.
Looking at these factors, it appears increasingly difficult for Suryakumar Yadav to script a comeback to the national team. To be fair, he has done his part and continues to work hard, but at this stage, the door back into the international setup appears to be closing for the 35-year-old.
Age is not on his side, and India's Mr. 360 may have to wait until next year for another opportunity, if a window opens up for him, even if it is not as captain.
If Suryakumar is never picked again, his exit in June would mark the end of one of India's most distinguished T20I careers.
Suryakumar has scored 3,272 runs in 113 T20Is, including four centuries and 25 half-centuries. For the unaware, he is also India's third-highest run-scorer in the format, behind only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
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