As the countdown to the Asia Cup 2025 intensifies, former Pakistan batter Bazid Khan has pointed out what he believes could be a key weakness in India’s batting line-up — Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles against Pakistan.
Speaking on a local TV show, Bazid praised Suryakumar’s explosive batting against most opponents but underlined how the Indian star has failed to leave a mark against the Men in Green.
“Suryakumar scores runs against almost everyone, but somehow, against Pakistan, he hasn’t been effective. Whether it is the pace attack or some other reason, it remains an issue,” Bazid observed.
The timing of this concern is crucial. Suryakumar, regarded as one of the most dominant T20 batters of recent years, will be captaining India for the first time in a multi-nation tournament. And his captaincy will be tested immediately in high-pressure fixtures — especially the marquee clash against Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai.
The numbers back Bazid’s claim. In five T20I innings against Pakistan, Yadav has scored just 64 runs at an average of 12.80 and a strike rate of 118.51, with 18 being his highest score. He is yet to register a half-century against India’s fiercest rivals. Even in the Asia Cup, his returns remain modest — 31 runs in two innings at an average of 15.50.
What makes this statistic even more striking is that against every other major side, Yadav’s record stands tall. For instance, against England, despite averaging only 29.08, he boasts a staggering strike rate of 171.92. Pakistan remains the only team against whom he has failed to average 30 or more.
Yadav’s struggles have not been limited to one set of conditions either. He has faltered on spin-friendly tracks in Dubai (2021 T20 World Cup and 2022 Asia Cup) as well as pace-heavy surfaces in Melbourne (2022 T20 World Cup) and New York (2024 T20 World Cup).
India begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against UAE on September 10, but all eyes are already on the high-stakes battle against Pakistan four days later. For Suryakumar, it is not just about leading India — it is about proving that he can finally crack the Pakistan code when it matters the most.
