As India and Pakistan gear up for the Asia Cup 2025 final, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has offered crucial advice to Suryakumar Yadav, who is currently leading the Indian side. While India has enjoyed an unbeaten run in the tournament under Suryakumar's captaincy, his individual form has been a cause for concern.
Suryakumar Yadav's recent performances have been underwhelming. In the Asia Cup 2025, he has only managed to score 71 runs in six matches, averaging 23.66 with a strike rate just above 100. His highest score in the tournament is an unbeaten 47 against Pakistan in the group stage. This form is a stark contrast to his stellar performance in 2024, where he scored 420 runs in 15 innings with a strike rate of 155, including four fifties. Since taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma in July 2024, Suryakumar has struggled to replicate his best form. In 2025, he has only scored 99 runs in 10 innings, with an average of 12.37 and a modest strike rate of 110.
Gavaskar acknowledged Suryakumar's talent but advised him to take a few deliveries to assess the pitch conditions before playing his natural game. He emphasized that the conditions on the field can feel different from watching in the dugout, and it is crucial to gauge the pace, bounce, or turn of the pitch. Gavaskar told Sports Today, "He's undoubtedly a class player. All I would suggest is that he give himself three or four deliveries in the middle to assess the conditions—check for pace, bounce, or turn. Watching from the dugout and stepping onto the field can feel very different". He further added, "Sometimes, if a batter is ahead, it might seem like there's nothing in the pitch, but it's always better to take a few balls to gauge the conditions before playing your natural game".
Irfan Pathan has also raised concerns about Suryakumar's form, highlighting his low score of 99 runs in 10 innings in 2025, with a strike rate of 110. Pathan pointed out that Suryakumar's dismissal while playing the sweep shot has been a recurring issue and that his IPL form hasn't translated into international runs.
Despite Suryakumar's struggles, Gavaskar has expressed confidence in India's batting firepower. He believes that Suryakumar is due for runs, along with other players like Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya. Gavaskar also expects Shubman Gill to deliver a big score. He also mentioned Abhishek Sharma, who is currently the leading run-scorer in the Asia Cup 2025 with 309 runs, is in good form and is likely to aim for a big innings. Gavaskar said that Sharma won't let opportunities slip by and is likely to aim for a century.
Gavaskar also believes that India's nervy super over win against Sri Lanka, will serve as a wake-up call and benefit their final preparations. He stated that facing a tough day before the final can be beneficial, as it allows the team to maintain composure under pressure.
With the Asia Cup final being the first time India and Pakistan will clash in the final in the tournament's history, the stakes are high. Fans and analysts hope that Suryakumar Yadav can rediscover his form and lead India from the front in this crucial match.
