T20 World Cup 2026: Vinay Kumar backs Suryakumar Yadav at the No.3 position

Former India pacer Vinay Kumar has made a pointed observation about India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav during the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, in which India currently hold a 1–0 lead. Vinay stressed that a player’s effectiveness in T20 cricket is closely tied to batting in their natural and most productive position, and he feels that Suryakumar has drifted away from that principle since assuming the captaincy. According to Vinay, Suryakumar has unintentionally compromised his own impact by allowing other batters to take up positions ahead of him in the order. While this may have been done to provide opportunities to teammates or maintain team balance, Vinay believes it has come at the cost of India’s most dynamic T20 batter spending fewer balls at the crease.

Suryakumar Yadav should bat No.3 in the T20 World Cup 2026?

Vinay Kumar argued that Suryakumar’s strength lies in dominating bowlers early and setting the tempo, something that becomes difficult when he walks in too late. With the T20 World Cup scheduled for 2026, Vinay feels this series against New Zealand is the right time for Suryakumar to reclaim his spot in the top order. He believes doing so would not only help the team maximize his attacking potential but also allow India to settle key batting roles well ahead of the global tournament.

"It is important for any player to bat at his best position. Surya plays well in the top order. But as a captain, he has to give others the cushion and take the hit. Your role is not easy as a captain. You have to put others in the front, give them the cushion, and somewhere you take the hit. But this bilateral series is not like the World Cup. It is important to play in your best place," stated former Indian cricketer Vinay Kumar. 

Vinay Kumar also suggested that Shubman Gill’s absence from the T20I squad could be a deliberate tactical decision aimed at freeing up space for Suryakumar Yadav to bat higher in the order. He felt that the team management may have used this opportunity to reassess combinations and ensure that India’s most explosive batter gets maximum time at the crease. According to Vinay, Suryakumar’s influence on the game increases significantly when he bats early, allowing him to dictate terms against both pace and spin.

The former pacer shared his preferred batting combination, stating that Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson should open the innings. He believes this pairing offers a blend of aggression and adaptability at the top. Vinay further opined that Suryakumar should slot in at No. 3, a position that would enable him to control the tempo of the innings and exploit fielding restrictions. In his view, this setup would help India extract the best from Suryakumar while building a settled top order ahead of future T20 assignments.

"Maybe that is a reason why Shubman Gill is not in the team. If Gill is not there, the probability of Surya playing at three becomes more. Sanju can open with Abhishek, Surya can come at three, Tilak at four. If Tilak is not fit, then Shreyas can take his spot. I think any player will think that when they got success, at which number they batted, how they batted and what the mindset was. I think he will consider all this and choose the number. There is no scope for mistakes in the T20 World Cup," Vinay added. 

Suryakumar Yadav has gone through a difficult phase with the bat in 2025, finding it hard to produce consistent returns in T20 Internationals. Across 19 innings in the shortest format this year, he has managed just 218 runs, averaging a modest 13.62. His strike rate of 123.16 also reflects a dip from the explosive standards he is known for, and he is yet to register a single half-century in T20Is during the year. This prolonged lean run has inevitably led to questions about his form and impact at the top level.

However, there were encouraging signs in the opening T20I against New Zealand. Suryakumar displayed positive intent and a willingness to back his natural attacking game, scoring 32 runs from 22 deliveries. His strike rate of 145.45 in that innings suggested a return to a more assertive approach, even if the knock was relatively brief. While the numbers remain a concern, the innings offered a glimpse of momentum and confidence that India will hope he can build on as the series progresses.