Suryakumar Yadav set to replace Shreyas Iyer as Mumbai’s captain in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025
by Naman Jain · Inside Sport IndiaSuryakumar Yadav has a plan to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026.
India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav will be seen in action in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) this season. Elevating the hype for India’s premier domestic T20 competition, Suryakumar is set to lead Mumbai in the tournament as he prepares for the next T20I bilateral. The Men in Blue next host South Africa for a five-match rubber that starts on December 9. However, with SMAT beginning on November 26, Suryakumar eyes game time.
Last year, Shreyas Iyer led Mumbai to their second SMAT silverware. He was made the new white-ball skipper but his recent injury has ruled him out of this year’s tournament. Due to this, Mumbai have turned to Suryakumar Yadav, who seems a logical choice since there are no international commitments till the second week of December.
Earlier this year, Shardul Thakur was made Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy captain, while Ajinkya Rahane still features alongside the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Tushar Deshpande. Alongside Suryakumar, Shivam Dube is also expected to play in the SMAT games. Suryakumar and Dube recently turned down playing Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy fixture to prepare for the T20 format.
Suryakumar Yadav needs runs ASAP
Indian skipper Suryakumar can potentially play the entire group stage for Mumbai till December 8, as per the Indian Express. But since India’s first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack in on December 9, he may miss the December 8 fixture. So, it is highly likely for SKY to play six games for Mumbai.
In those games, Suryakumar would love to belt some runs as he is hugely out of form. With the T20 World Cup 2026 just a couple of months away, India’s captain finds himself out of form and running out of time. On paper, Suryakumar’s 84 runs from four innings at a strike rate of 171.42 at the end of the Australia T20 series is not terrible, but it is incredibly deceptive. His scores of 39, 1, 24, and 20 indicate a pattern of early dismissals. This is how it has been for months. Since the 2024 World Cup, he has averaged just 19.71 in his 24 T20I innings, with just two fifties.
Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I innings since last 50
| Opposition | Date | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Nov 2024 | 26 runs (3 inns) |
| England | Jan–Feb 2025 | 28 (across 5 inns) |
| Asia Cup | Sep 2025 | 72 (across 6 inns) (SR of 101) |
| Australia | Oct–Nov 2025 | 84 (across 4 inns) |
The last half-century came more than a year ago, in October 2024, against Bangladesh. The difference was startling for a player who had appeared invincible in franchise cricket. He doesn’t appear to be at his best. Even after playing for a few years, he was once regarded as part of India’s all-time T20 lineup for a reason. But at 35, his prime may be long gone. He has only scored 184 runs at an average of 15.33 this year.
Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy schedule (Group Stage)
- Wed, Nov 26, 2025: Mumbai vs Railways, 10:00 AM (IST)
- Fri, Nov 28, 2025: Mumbai vs Vidarbha, 1:30 PM (IST)
- Sun, Nov 30, 2025: Andhra vs Mumbai, 1:30 PM (IST)
- Tue, Dec 2, 2025: Assam vs Mumbai, 1:30 PM (IST)
- Thu, Dec 4, 2025: Kerala vs Mumbai, 10:00 AM (IST)
- Sat, Dec 6, 2025: Chhattisgarh vs Mumbai, 10:00 AM (IST)
- Mon, Dec 8, 2025: Mumbai vs Odisha, 1:30 PM (IST)