It took just 24 balls for Suryakumar Yadav to remind everyone why he’s called Mr. 360°. A few failures earlier in the year, and fans had already started labelling him a burden on Team India. But when the stage shifted to Australia, the real “Sky” finally broke through the clouds.
The India vs Australia 1st T20I may have been abandoned due to rain, but in the brief passage of play we got to witness, one thing was crystal clear - Suryakumar Yadav’s form is back.
Heading into this match, Surya had endured a forgettable 2025 in T20Is, managing only 100 runs in 11 innings, a shocking return for the world’s top-ranked T20 batter not too long ago. But sometimes, it only takes one innings to turn things around. And in Canberra, Surya looked like his old, fearless self again, smashing an unbeaten 39 off just 24 balls, packed with crisp drives, outrageous sweeps, and that trademark audacity that makes him a nightmare for bowlers.
He was true to his words. Ahead of the 1st T20I, Sky had said, "I feel like I have been working really hard; before also I was also doing it. It is not that I was not working hard. I've had a few good sessions back home and 2-3 good sessions here, so I am in a good space. I think that is really important. Runs, they will come eventually, but working hard towards a team goal, that's more important."
It wasn’t just Surya who shone under the gloomy skies. Shubman Gill, returning to the T20 setup after a lackluster Asia Cup campaign, found his rhythm too. His 37 not out off 20 deliveries, filled with elegant timing and confident strokeplay, perfectly complemented Surya’s explosiveness. The duo stitched together a quickfire 62-run stand, putting India in a dominant position before the weather gods decided to intervene.
For fans and selectors alike, this brief but impactful partnership was more than just a cameo. It was a statement - that India’s top order, once struggling for consistency, is roaring back to life at just the right time. With the T20 World Cup only months away, seeing both Surya and Gill rediscover their touch couldn’t have come at a better moment.
The rain may have stolen the result, but the message from Sydney was loud and clear: Suryakumar Yadav is back, and the spark in India’s batting order is burning brighter than ever.
If this was just a teaser, Australia, and the rest of the cricketing world, better brace themselves. Because when “Sky” starts shining, there’s no stopping the storm.
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