"That must change" - Aakash Chopra on Team India star's underwhelming performances in AUS vs IND 2025 T20Is

Former India player Aakash Chopra has noted that Suryakumar Yadav led the Men in Blue well in the T20I series against Australia and has been on a series-winning spree as a captain. However, he highlighted that the Indian skipper needs to return to his run-scoring ways.

India beat Australia 2-1 in the recently concluded five-match T20I series, with the first and final games not yielding results due to rain. Suryakumar aggregated 84 runs at an average of 28.00 in four innings.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener reflected on the visitors' taleaways from the T20I series against Australia. As for Suryakumar, he said:

"Suryakumar Yadav hasn't scored that many runs, although his captaincy style and his winning run have been outstanding. However, he himself hasn't scored too many runs, which is also a reality, and that must change. Many people, including myself, believed that the Australian pitches would suit him and that he would score runs here."

While acknowledging that SKY, as he is fondly called, seemed headed to a big score in the series opener in Canberra before rain halted play, Chopra expressed slight concern about the Indian captain's lack of runs.

"However, runs haven't been scored. Like Shubman (Gill), it never seemed like he was out of form. He could have scored a lot of runs in Canberra, but it rained, and he didn't get to bat in the last match. Him not scoring runs is a bit of a setback," he observed.

Suryakumar Yadav was unbeaten on a 24-ball 39 when rain ended proceedings in the first T20I against Australia. He aggregated 45 runs in his other three innings, failing to convert two starts into more substantial efforts.

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"The rise and rise of Axar Patel" - Aakash Chopra on India's other takeaways from AUS vs IND 2025 T20Is

Axar Patel impressed with his all-round performances in the T20I series against Australia. [P/C: Getty]

While observing that Varun Chakaravarthy has emerged as the preferred specialist spinner ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, Aakash Chopra praised Axar Patel for proving that he is as valuable as Hardik Pandya.

"We got to know that if there is a choice and only one of Kuldeep and Varun can play, Varun is slightly ahead in the T20 race. The rise and rise of Axar Patel. He has been outstanding. We talk about Hardik Pandya being a very important cog in this team because he brings balance. Look at Axar Patel, he does the same thing," he said in the same video.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also appreciated Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar for their performances with ball and bat, respectively.

"He (Axar) bats, bowls, and does a very good job. If you see Axar Patel's contribution in the last match you won, you would say outstanding. So Axar Patel deserves a very special mention. Shivam Dube's bowling deserves a mention because he bowled very well. Washington Sundar batted very well. That deserves a special mention," Chopra elaborated.

Axar Patel scored 45 runs at a strike rate of 128.57 in three innings and picked up two wickets at an economy rate of 6.87 in two innings in the T20I series against Australia. While Shivam Dube accounted for three crucial dismissals in the five overs he bowled, Washington Sundar smashed 61 runs at a strike rate of 203.33 in the two innings he played.

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Edited by Kartik Iyer