AB de Villiers says Suryakumar Yadav must change mindset to regain form

South African legend AB de Villiers has offered candid advice to Suryakumar Yadav, urging the Indian T20I captain to make a mental adjustment to overcome his prolonged poor form.

Suryakumar, who took over India’s T20I leadership last year, has struggled for consistency in 2025 — scoring just 100 runs in 11 innings at an average of 11.11. His repeated dismissals against slower deliveries have exposed a worrying pattern, raising concerns about both his shot selection and confidence at the crease.

Despite leading India to the Asia Cup title recently, the star batter failed to pass fifty in the tournament, further emphasizing his dip in form.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers highlighted that the issue lies more in mindset than in technique.

“I wouldn’t call it a weakness, but when you keep getting out to the same delivery, you’ve got to make a few adjustments — more in your mindset than in your technique,” de Villiers said. “He needs to recognize the slower ball early and treat it as an opportunity to build an innings, not just look for big shots.”

The former South African captain advised Suryakumar to focus on rotating the strike, using gaps, and rebuilding confidence through smart cricket rather than power-hitting — a shift he believes could reignite the Indian skipper’s natural attacking flair.