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Ponting Urges Suryakumar Yadav To Bat Fearlessly Ahead of T20 World Cup

India enter a short prep window with a five-match New Zealand series from January 21 ahead of their February 7 title defence.

Overview

  • Ricky Ponting told Suryakumar Yadav to think about scoring runs rather than dismissals, urging him to trust his proven T20 game.
  • Ponting likened Yadav’s best batting to Travis Head’s fearless approach, saying it looks like they do not fear getting out.
  • Yadav managed only 218 runs in 19 T20I innings in 2025 at a strike rate of 123.16 with an average reported at 13.62, far below his peak output.
  • Ponting praised Axar Patel’s elevation to vice-captain, calling him a go-to option for flexible batting roles and reliable left-arm spin.
  • He expressed surprise at Shubman Gill’s omission from the World Cup squad, even as India’s depth offers alternatives, with India opening versus the USA on February 7 in Mumbai.