Suryakumar Yadav Appeals to AB de Villiers for Guidance to Revive His ODI Career

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New Delhi:
Indian cricket star Suryakumar Yadav, currently captain of the T20 team, is going through a rough patch in his career, struggling to score runs consistently in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Over the past year, his form has dipped, prompting him to make an emotional appeal to South African legend AB de Villiers, seeking guidance to regain his touch and secure his place in the ODI squad.

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Struggling in ODIs

Known as India’s “Mr. 360”, Suryakumar has dazzled in T20 Internationals with his innovative stroke play, but the same magic has eluded him in ODIs. In 37 ODI matches for India, Suryakumar has scored 773 runs, including 4 fifties but no centuries, with an average of 25.76. In contrast, in T20Is, he has amassed 2,734 runs in 93 matches at an impressive average of 36.94, striking at 164.20, with 4 centuries, 21 fifties, and 152 sixes — making him one of only five players to hit over 150 sixes in T20Is.

Despite his T20 success, Suryakumar has struggled to cement his place in the ODI squad, leaving his dream of winning an ODI World Cup hanging in the balance.

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Emotional Appeal to AB de Villiers

During a YouTube podcast with Vimal Kumar, Suryakumar admitted that he is currently facing challenges across all white-ball formats. He expressed hope that AB de Villiers could guide him:

“If I get to meet him soon, I want to ask how he balanced his T20 and ODI games. I haven’t been able to do it myself. I feel I should play ODIs like T20s, but I want to know what he did to succeed in both formats.”

Suryakumar’s plea was heartfelt:
“AB, if you are listening, please connect with me soon. I have 3-4 precious years left. I am eager to play ODI cricket. Please help me. I haven’t been able to balance T20 and ODI cricket.”

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IPL Form Contrasts International Struggles

Despite this international slump, Suryakumar showcased his talent in IPL 2025, scoring over 600 runs, proving he is still in top form domestically. Fans now eagerly await AB de Villiers’ response, hoping this mentorship can help Suryakumar rediscover his ODI brilliance.

— SD Sports Desk