"He played every card well" - Ex-India star heaps praise on Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy in AUS vs IND 2025 4th T20I

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan lavished praise on Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy in the fourth T20I against Australia in Queensland on Thursday, November 6. Pathan felt the match-ups he created against every Aussie batter showed he was one step ahead and also looked confident.

With 167 to defend on a tricky surface at the Carrara Oval, Indian bowling came to the party. All six bowlers finished with a wicket at least. Washington Sundar was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets in only 1.2 overs as India won by 48 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-game series.

Speaking in the latest video on his YouTube channel, Pathan said about Surya's captaincy:

"He played every card well. The left-handers came, those that batted with Marcus Stoinis, he brought Washington Sundar then. He played every move by looking forward and every captain needs to be ahead of the game. Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy always looked one step ahead than Australia and the game. It’s a major positive, keeping in mind the World Cup because Suryakumar looks quite confident as captain."

The 41-year-old also praised the Indian skipper for bringing on spinners early as the ball was gripping when Australia were bowling. He elaborated:

"Axar Patel sometimes bats at number five, sometimes at the top but he helped Team India finish well. So, the 20 runs that came off his bat was vital. But captaincy is also a crucial factor and Suryakumar Yadav was 100 out of 100 in that department. When I was watching the match, I was thinking whether Surya can use four bowlers in the powerplay. I was thinking he should because the pitch was gripping slightly, especially when Nathan Ellis was bowling. When Bartlett bowled those slower deliveries, it again gripped. "So, I was thinking if spinners will come more into play, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh will bowl, as will Varun Chakravarthy. But I was thinking whether Axar Patel will also bowl and Surya did use four bowlers in the powerplay. Even after the powerplay, he brought Shivam Dube at the right time and used Bumrah well – two overs, including the last one of the powerplay. He bowled Arshdeep before Bumrah when he gave a breakthrough in his third over."

India, who were put into bat, struggled to reach the total of 167/8 in 20 overs. Shubman Gill top-scored with 46, while Axar, Suryakumar, Shivam Dube and Abhishek Sharma made small contributions to the cause.

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"Indian team’s thinking was spot on" - Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan. (Image Credits: Getty)

Pathan went on to praise the visitors' think-tank for sending in Dube at number three when Australia's premier spinner Adam Zampa came on to bowl. He added:

"Shivam Dube as well. I have also said previously that Dube needs to be at the crease when spinners come on. The powerplay was over, a wicket fell. When Adam Zampa was bowling, Dube was batting. Although a better performance is expected from Dube but Indian team’s thinking was spot on – to expose him against spinners because Dube plays spin well. The strike rate could have been better."

The former seamer further opined that Dube had cemented his spot as a bona fide all-rounder with his bowling performance in the fourth T20I. Pathan claimed that Dube had shown the calibre to deliver in any situation.

"The way his stocks have risen, mainly due to his bowling – he worked hard on his fitness, bowling and follow through has been better. In this match, he dismissed a set Mitchell Marsh and got the prized wicket of Tim David. He took two wickets in as many overs, made a comeback after being hit for a six. It shows Dube’s character and has displayed the readiness to take up the role, even if he is given the role of being the new-ball bowler which happened in the Asia Cup final. He is ready to deliver even under difficult circumstances," he concluded.

India and Australia will lock horns in the final T20I on Saturday, November 8.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava