‘I Take the Blame Myself’: Suryakumar Yadav Reflects on ODI Career Struggles
Suryakumar Yadav, the dynamic architect of India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph and the world’s premier T20 batter, has offered a candid assessment of his international career, pointing to his own shortcomings as the reason for his failure to establish himself in the ODI format.
Despite his unparalleled success in the shortest format, Suryakumar’s tenure in One Day Internationals remains a point of deep personal regret. In 37 appearances, he managed 773 runs at an average of 25.76—a statistical output that failed to mirror the explosive impact he has become famous for in T20Is. His last outing in the 50-over format came during the high-stakes 2023 World Cup final against Australia, after which he has been absent from the setup.
A Failure to Adapt
In an honest conversation on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel, the 34-year-old refused to blame selection panels or external circumstances, choosing instead to shoulder the responsibility for his inability to crack the ODI code.
“I personally feel I did not put in as much effort as I should have for that format,” Suryakumar admitted. He noted that while he treats his T20 preparation with meticulous detail—often practicing longer than his actual match-time duration—he failed to show the same dedication toward understanding the nuances of 50-over cricket.
“I knew I was probably going to bat at No. 5 or 6, but even then, I did not work hard enough to understand the format,” he explained. “By the time I could blink, those 20-25 games had gone. I don’t even know when it happened or how it went by. I take the blame myself when it comes to ODI cricket.”
The Complexity of the 50-Over Game
Suryakumar described ODI cricket as arguably the most difficult format for a middle-order batter. According to the star, the psychological and tactical demands of the game are vastly different from the high-octane environment of T20s.
“You can be two down for zero if you are batting at No. 4, or four down for 24 if you are batting at No. 6,” he noted. “You have to bat almost like you do in a Test match. You see off the bowlers initially, give them respect, and slowly build your innings. You may bat at a strike rate of 50 or sometimes 75, then take it to 100, and eventually finish at 130 or 140.”
The contrast between his comfort in T20s and his struggle in ODIs highlights the fine line between formats in modern cricket. While he has mastered the art of improvisational strokeplay, he found that the sustained concentration and structural discipline required in ODIs did not align with his previous approach to the crease.
An Unfinished Chapter
Suryakumar’s reflection serves as a rare moment of vulnerability from one of modern cricket’s most successful icons. Having cemented his legacy as a T20 master—leading India to glory earlier this year—his ODI career remains an “unfinished chapter.”
As he looks back, he acknowledges that the missed opportunity is his alone to carry. With his white-ball prowess currently concentrated on T20s, the star remains determined to apply the lessons learned from his ODI failures to his continued excellence in his primary format.
