Shocking stats emerge after selectors drop SKY from T20I team

New Delhi: India's decision to drop T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav has sparked fresh debate after striking batting statistics emerged, raising questions over the selectors' justification for his omission.

Suryakumar had entered the post-World Cup phase with ambitious targets, publicly identifying the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the next T20 World Cup as major goals after guiding India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title. However, the selectors not only removed him from the captaincy but also excluded him from the squad altogether.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said the move was influenced by a combination of factors, including the player's recent form and the team's long-term plans leading into the next World Cup cycle. The selection panel concluded that a leadership transition under Shreyas Iyer was the best option for the future.

Yet statistical records from 2026 have intensified scrutiny of that decision. Among players from full-member nations, Suryakumar is currently the second-highest run-scorer of the year, amassing 484 runs in 14 matches at an average of 44.00. His tally includes four half-centuries and places him behind only Ishan Kishan, who has scored 532 runs in 13 matches following his return to international cricket before the T20 World Cup.

The figures become even more striking when compared with the rest of India's batting lineup, as no other Indian batter has crossed the 400-run mark in T20 internationals this year.

The omission has therefore come as a major surprise to many observers, particularly given Suryakumar's recent World Cup triumph and strong batting numbers. With the selectors opting to move in a different direction and the batter having not featured in ODIs or Tests since 2023, questions are growing over whether one of India's most successful T20 players has played his final international match.