Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav failed to make an impact in the second T20I of the five-match series against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, October 31. Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first against the Men in Blue in the second T20I.

After being put into bat first, Team India faced an early setback with the wickets of Shubman Gill (5) and Sanju Samson (2), leaving the visitors reeling at 23/2. After Samson's dismissal, skipper Suryakumar Yadav walked in to bat and joined Abhishek Sharma at the crease. Suryakumar was under scrutiny due to his inconsistent performances since taking over the T20I captaincy last year, and many expected the Indian skipper to deliver a strong knock to silence critics and lead from the front.

However, Suryakumar Yadav's struggles continue as he was dismissed for just 1 run by Australia's lead pacer Josh Hazlewood at 32/3, caught behind by Josh Inglis while attempting a drive outside off stump, further adding woes to India's batting.

Torrid Run of Form Continues for Suryakumar

Ahead of the first T20I against Australia in Canberra, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was not bothered by Suryakumar Yadav's struggling form, stating that the failure is 'acceptable' while pursuing an aggressive approach in the shortest format of the game. In the series opener at Manuka Oval in Canberra, India's skipper showed a glimpse of his return to form when he played an unbeaten 39 off 34 balls before the match was abandoned due to rain.

However, his cheap dismissal in the Melbourne T20I reignited concerns about his dwindling confidence and form. Suryakumar Yadav has been struggling to maintain his consistency ever since he took over full-time T20I captaincy in July last year. Since July 2024, the 35-year-old has aggregated just 370 runs, including two fifties, at an average of 19.47 in 24 matches. This is a stark contrast to his performance before taking up the captaincy, wherein he amassed 2040 runs, including 3 centuries, at an average of 43.40 in 61 matches.

Suryakumar Yadav in Last 15 T20I InngsRuns: 145Avg: 12.08SR: 106.6150s: 0#AUSvIND twitter/n7YxHV7i8v

- (@Shebas_10dulkar) October 31, 2025

In the Asia Cup 2025, Suryakumar was not at his best as he could score just 72 runs at an average of 18 in six innings. His lean run of form continued into the subsequent ongoing T20I series against Australia, where his poor returns with the bat have further intensified the spotlight on his captaincy and batting form.

One 47* aside, Suryakumar Yadav's Asia Cup with the bat has been forgettable twitter/9TnsAKcxjr

- ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 28, 2025

Before taking over the T20I captaincy, Suryakumar Yadav was a completely different player, unleashing his firepower and taking bowlers to the cleaners with his fearless strokeplay. However, since assuming leadership duties, his natural attacking instincts appeared to have been tampered with, added responsibility of captaincy.

Fans React to Suryakumar Yadav's Cheap Dismissal

Following his 1-run dismissal against Australia in the second T20I, Suryakumar Yadav's form once again became the focal point of discussion on social media, with fans and cricket enthusiasts frustrated over his continued struggles and questioning his ability to balance leadership duties with batting responsibilities.

there's not a single impactful knock Suryakumar Yadav has played in his entire career! I don't understand how is he the captain of t20 side when he shouldn't even be selected in playing 11 based on his performance

- ᴗ̈ (@shru_aat) October 31, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav ka recent T20 form clearly girta dikh raha hai, aur captaincy unke game pe pressure daal rahi hai. Unke numbers khud sab kuch keh dete hain - vs England 0(3), 12(7); vs South Africa 0(0), 1(4), 4(9), 21(17); vs Bangladesh 75(35), 8(10), 29(14); vs Sri Lanka 8(9).... twitter/RTnA2r8B82

- Ginni Malhotra (@GinniMalhotra_) October 31, 2025

Suryakumar yadav is a IPL bully, I have never seen him doing well in crucial matches, overrated player beleive me or not, and still people compare him with ab de Villiers, time to give chances to young players.#IndianCricketTeam #INDvsAUS #BCCI #SuryakumarYadav

- unknownguy (@sjss019) October 31, 2025

Suryakumar yadav has eaten more chewing gums than runs scored by him in 2025.#INDvsAUS Beyond The Boundary (@Navratan_07) October 31, 2025

#INDvsAUSDon't judge a player from one match, there is no doubt that Suryakumar Yadav is a world class gully cricket player.

- Cricket Archives (@Cricket4rchives) October 31, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav as Captain – form has dipped badly since taking the role Gill as Vice-Captain – still struggling to justify his spot in T20Is; we're all waiting to see why he was made VC. Gautam Gambhir as Coach – seems lost in a dream world of Harshit Rana#BCCI

- Aakash Raj (@Aakashraj2208) October 31, 2025

Looking at Suryakumar Yadav's stats from the last three T20 series, it's hard to justify his place in the team - let alone as captain. Still, @BCCI thinks otherwise. twitter/4QqXLOoFb6

- suchak patel (@suchak) October 31, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav seriously need to introspect his game atp.. Moreover his casual approach is what annoys the most. Being the Captain, it is your duty to perform for the team. Only expecting from others won't do much good for a long time. #INDvsAUS

- Prajakta ~ (@pprja_14) October 31, 2025

Lord Harshit Rana scored important 35 runs when players like Shumban Gill and Suryakumar Yadav not able to score more than 5 runs #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND twitter/oa7g4IiCeh

- Latest Updates (@Iam_Sh05) October 31, 2025

Meanwhile, Team India bundled out for 125 in 18.4 overs. Opener Abhishek Sharma led India's batting with a brilliant knock of 68 off 37 balls, including 8 fours and 2 sixes, at a strike rate of

183.78. He formed a crucial 56-run stand for the sixth wicket with Harshit Rana, who scored 35 off 33 balls, to pull the team out of a shambolic situation of 49/5 to a respectable total before India eventually collapsed in the final overs.

For Australia, Josh Hazlewood led the bowling attack with a spell of 3/13 at an economy rate of 3.2 in four overs. Nathan Ellis (2/21) and Xavier Bartlett (2/39) picked two wickets each, while Marnus Stoinis picked a scalp.

MENAFN31102025007385015968ID1110275943