A tale of Pace vs Spin: Is Suryakumar Yadav losing his edge?

Even as India posted a mammoth 231 against South Africa today, fueled by the brilliance of Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma, there was one glaring sombre note in the celebration: the form of captain Suryakumar Yadav. Walking back for just 5 runs off 7 balls, SKY’s dismissal wasn’t just a one-off failure; it was the latest chapter in a worrying trend that has defined his 2025.

Also Read: 5th T20I: Tilak, Hardik power India to massive 231 against South Africa

For a batter once hailed as "Mr. 360," who could manipulate fast bowlers at will, this year has revealed a startling weakness. The numbers against pace are frankly alarming. In 19 innings facing the quicks this year, Suryakumar has been dismissed 15 times. He is averaging a meagre 8.20 against pace, with a strike rate of just 112.84. Perhaps most concerning is the dot ball percentage of 50.8%, meaning half the time he faces speed, he isn't scoring at all.

However, it’s not that he has forgotten how to bat. The contrast when facing spin is night and day. Against slower bowlers, he has scored 95 runs off 68 balls and has been dismissed only once all year. He looks composed and fluid against spin, but the moment the pace cranks up, the fluency vanishes.

Fast bowlers seem to have found a blueprint: cramp him for room or rush him before he can get into his innovative positions. For India, having a captain who is virtually walking wicket against the new ball is a luxury they cannot afford. SKY needs to find a solution to this pace puzzle quickly, or the "sky" might start looking a lot less limitless.