IND vs NZ 2026: Irfan Pathan suggests ideal batting position for Suryakumar Yadav

Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has finally shown signs of returning to form. He scored 32 runs in 22 balls in the first T20I against New Zealand, which included 4 fours and 1 six. Although he could not convert his innings into a big score, he showed glimpses of his true potential throughout his innings, which also reflected his confidence. During his innings, he also played one of his favourite shots, “Supla,” which went for maximum. Last year, Surya totally failed with the bat, scoring 218 runs in 19 innings, at a lower average of 13.62. He failed to hit a fifty in the previous year. 

Due to his poor form, critics were continuously demanding his removal from captaincy. In addition to his poor form, there was considerable debate last year about his batting order. Sometimes he batted at No. 3, sometimes at No. 4. However, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has revealed the ideal batting position for Suryakumar Yadav for the upcoming World Cup. He believes Surya should bat at No. 4. Pathan feels that if Suryakumar bats at 4, he will be able to dominate the spinners in the middle overs. 

"No. 4. The way he has dominated in the middle overs for years and years, with his sweeps and ability to play spin really well. So, I think that is his position," Pathan said. 

Pathan also praised Abhishek Sharma’s batting and called him an X-factor player for Team India for the upcoming World Cup. Abhishek Sharma played a brilliant 84-run innings against New Zealand in the T20I series opener, including 5 fours and 8 sixes. 

"He's a bowler killer. If you want to destroy a bowler's confidence, bring him to bowl in front of an in-form Abhishek Sharma. So, that is why he can be an X-factor," Pathan said.

Irfan Pathan is also backing Sanju Samson as an opener. He said Sanju has already hit T20I centuries in the opening slot, and he is urging the Indian team management to continue backing the wicketkeeper-batter.

"It should be Sanju Samson. He has hit centuries as an opener, and it also gives you that right-left combination. So, right now, Sanju Samson," he added.

Sanju Samson as an opener T20I Stats

Irfan Pathan picked Shreyas Iyer over Ishan Kishan as an ideal batter for No. 3, after Tilak Varma’s replacement. He mentioned that Shreyas Iyer’s performance in IPL 2025. He said that Iyer did a great job at No. 3 in the IPL 2025 for the Punjab Kings. In the Nagpur T20I, Ishan Kishan played at 3, and Shreyas Iyer missed the match. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav clearly told the reporters before the match that Ishan will bat at 3 because he is in India’s World Cup squad. 

"I feel it should be Shreyas Iyer at No. 3 because he has shown his capabilities. We've seen how well he performed in the last IPL (604 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate of 175.07)," Pathan said.

Irfan Pathan was also asked about India’s death-overs specialist to partner Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, and he backed left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.

"It could be Arshdeep Singh. He has that wide yorker with a left-arm angle for the death overs, and he can also target the stumps whenever he wants," he concluded.