"Middle a few balls" - Suryakumar Yadav's MI teammate reveals chat with struggling batter during 5th IND vs SA 2025 T20I

Team India batter Tilak Varma stated that he urged Suryakumar Yadav to take his time and middle a few balls to try and find some form in the fifth T20I against South Africa. He asserted that the Indian skipper is just one good innings away from rediscovering his touch with the willow.

The Men in Blue beat the Proteas by 30 runs in the fifth and final T20I of the series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, December 19. Sent into bat, India posted 231-5 on the board as Varma top-scored with 73 off 42, while Hardik Pandya slammed 63 off 25.

While the hosts went on to win the game and the T20I series, Suryakumar's woes with the bat continued. He was dismissed for five by Corbin Bosch following a mistimed stroke. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Varma, Suryakumar's Mumbai Indians (MI) teammate, opened up on his conversation with the Indian captain while they were batting together. He said:

"I was just asking him to middle a few balls - wait and be calm and take a few balls. Take the feel of the middle of the bat - that's what I was talking to him. If he gets that confidence, everyone has watched how he can play. Unfortunately, it was not his day again, but everyone is waiting for that one innings. If he gets that one innings, everyone knows how dangerous he can be."

Following yet another low score, Suryakumar ended 2025 without a T20I fifty. In 19 innings, he scored 218 runs at an average of 13.62 and a strike rate of 123.16.

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"These two are go-to bowlers" - Tilak Varma on Bumrah, Chakaravarthy after 5th IND vs SA 2025 T20I

While Varma and Pandya impressed with the bat for India, Jasprit Bumrah (2-17) starred with the ball. Varun Chakaravarthy (4-53) also made a brilliant comeback after being attacked by Proteas batters. Varma praised both the bowlers for their crucial contribution in Ahmedabad on Friday and said:

"Everyone knows that Jasprit Bumrah has that extra nip in his bowling. Same way, Varun Chakaravarthy has that extra something in his bowling. He can take wickets anytime. These two bowlers are go-to bowlers. When the team needs a wicket, they'll do that. The way Varun is performing consistently is good to watch. He should be doing that till the World Cup."

Following India's win, Chakaravarthy was named Player of the Series for claiming 10 wickets in four innings at an average of 11.20 and an economy rate of 7.46.

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Edited by Renin Wilben Albert