AB de Villiers urges Suryakumar Yadav to adjust mindset to overcome poor form

Legendary South African batter AB de Villiers has delivered a frank assessment of Suryakumar Yadav’s recent slump, urging the Indian T20I captain to focus on a mindset shift to rediscover his form.

Since taking over India’s T20I leadership last year, Suryakumar has endured a lean patch — managing just 100 runs in 11 innings this year at an average of 11.11 — raising questions about his approach and adaptability at the crease.

The 34-year-old’s repeated dismissals against slower deliveries have highlighted a technical and mental vulnerability. Even during India’s recent Asia Cup triumph, Suryakumar failed to make a half-century, underlining the depth of his current struggles.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers stressed the importance of a mental reset rather than an overhaul of technique.

“I wouldn’t call it a weakness, but when you keep getting out to the same kind of delivery, it’s a signal that you need to tweak a few things — especially in your mindset,” de Villiers explained. “He needs to see it as an opportunity, pick up the slower ball earlier, and aim for smarter options rather than always going for boundaries.”

The South African great advised Suryakumar to focus on strike rotation, finding gaps, and rebuilding confidence through calculated batting, which he believes will help the Indian skipper regain his trademark fluency and flair.