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India started their T20 World Cup preparations with a 48-run win over New Zealand on Wednesday. In the match, Suryakumar Yadav played his 100th T20I and became only the third Indian, after Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, to achieve this milestone. He now has two more T20I caps than MS Dhoni.

Suryakumar Yadav has not been great at white-ball cricket like other superstars. He has played 37 ODI matches without scoring a century. Considering these marks, he is India's first true T20 specialist, captaining the team at a time when the shortest format dominated the fans.

Suryakumar Yadav's focused skills earned him the captaincy after India moved on from the previous generation of stars following their 2024 T20 World Cup win. He has been reasonably well, securing his 30th win in 35 matches on Wednesday. However, his batting form in recent times has been modest, and with changes in India's top order, the T20 specialist and captain could become a potential weakness for the team ahead of the World Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav's performance on Wednesday was not poor, but it was far from his best. His 22-ball 32 lacked the usual inventive 360-degree shots and daring drives he is best known for. He hit a few well-timed boundaries and a nice six from one knee, but the innings was also full of mistimed shots. It showed intent but little control, highlighting the struggles he is facing s he is trying to regain his form.

Even so, it was only his third-highest score in the past 15 months, during which he has gone 23 innings without scoring a fifty. He has scored just 388 runs in 26 innings since October, which is less than a third of India's top scorer, Abhishek Sharma, averaging 16.86 with a strike rate of 134. 42.

He played well in the IPL last year, showing he is not completely out of form. However, most of his runs came against spin, not against top-quality international fast bowlers who know how to trouble him. Surya also faces extra pressure to lead from the front as he is the captain of India. The team's attacking strategy does not allow him to take his time; he has to score quickly, not just get a feel for the conditions.

His uncertain shot selection, early entry to the crease after quick wickets, and urge to force big shots have made him vulnerable. Fast bowlers sense this weaknessand have adjusted well. His usual scoring areas, especially behind square and on the leg side, have dried up as pacers slow the ball down, forcing mistimed shots and catches in front of the wicket. His pre-planned hard swings often work against him.

These ongoing struggles are part of a bigger problem for India. Constant changes to the batting order have only added to the trouble. Currently, Abhishek Sharma appears to be the only batter in good form among India's top four ahead of the World Cup. 

When Sanju Samson was scoring runs, he was moved around the batting order to make room for vice-captain Shubhman Gill, who was picked after strong performances as Test captain. Before the World Cup, the team reversed that decision, leaving Sanju with only a few matches to regain form. Tilak Varma's injury has added to India's problems. 

India's captain needs to start scoring runs in the next four T20Is against New Zealand. The team management has already shown that form and balance matter by dropping Shubhman Gill. Continuing to back Suryakumar during this long, poor run, while in-form players like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer wait on the sidelines, would go against that approach. With so much T20 batting talent available, sticking with a batter averaging just 20 over the past year would be hard to justify. 

Also read | Suryakumar Eyes Huge T20I Milestone, Only Kohli Has Done it For India Before

Suryakumar Yadav was once much better against fast bowlers than spin, using his 360-degree shots to dominate pace in all conditions. Why has that strength faded so much lately?

Surya's fixed role in the team, his constant attacking approach, and his poor form have made him easier to read. Fast bowlers have now cracked how to bowl to him. Instead of using raw pace, they rely on slower balls and variations, knowing Surya will still attack. This often leads him to play shots to balls that are not there, without proper timing or power. These deliveries also work well in dewy conditions and on slow, low subcontinental pitches, where the ball grips the surface.