Hardik Pandya 'not concerned' about Suryakumar Yadav's form ahead of IPL 2025

Hardik Pandya backed Suryakumar Yadav despite poor form ahead of IPL 2025, confident the star batter will deliver for Mumbai Indians when it matters most.

In Short

• Hardik Pandya confident in Suryakumar Yadav’s ability despite poor form
• Suryakumar managed just 28 runs in five T20Is vs England
• Mumbai Indians face Chennai Super Kings on March 23 opener

Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya has expressed full confidence in Suryakumar Yadav despite the star batter's recent struggles with the bat ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Speaking at a press conference alongside head coach Mahela Jayawardene, Pandya dismissed any concerns about Suryakumar's form, highlighting his proven track record as a match-winner for Mumbai Indians.

Suryakumar endured a disappointing run in the recent India vs England T20I series, where he managed scores of 2, 0, 14, 12, and 0 across five matches. His struggles were not limited to the international stage, as he also failed to make a significant impact in domestic cricket, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy. These inconsistent performances have raised questions about his form heading into the IPL season.

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"See Sky we're not worried about if that's the question. He has scored a lot of runs for a lot of years. I am not really concerned about his form or anything. For me he has batter brilliantly. He has been a match-winner for India and Mumbai Indians, and he always brings energy tothe team. So yeah, I am not concerned about his form," Hardik Pandya said.

Despite this, Pandya remains unconcerned and firmly believes that Suryakumar will rediscover his form when the tournament begins. The Mumbai Indians captain emphasised that Suryakumar has delivered for the franchise on numerous occasions in the past and has the ability to bounce back from poor phases.

Mumbai Indians are set to begin their IPL 2025 campaign with a marquee clash against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings on March 23. Hardik won't be there as he is serving a 1-match ban for slow over-rate last season, with Suryakumar set to lead the side in the match. The high-pressure opening match will test the team’s readiness, and Suryakumar’s form could play a crucial role in setting the tone for the season.

Despite the chatter around his recent form, Mumbai Indians remain confident that Suryakumar will deliver when it matters most.