Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has offered some timely advice to the struggling Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The marquee event is scheduled to start next month, with India and Sri Lanka co-hosting the event. 

The Indian T20 captain, who not long ago was ranked No.1 batter in the World in T20Is, has been struggling with his form since last year. Despite leading India to multiple victories, he had a horrific year as a batter in 2025, managing merely 218 runs at a strike rate of 123.16 and a modest average of 13.62 in the 21 matches he played in the year. The numbers are nowhere near the standards of the Mumbai batter has set for himself.

Ponting, known for his sharp cricketing mind, offered some advice to the struggling right-handed batter. Speaking at the ICC Review meeting ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, the 51-year-old admitted that he is shocked by how much the India T20 captain is struggling for form. 

“That’s as big a surprise for me, just looking at his recent form. He’s been such a solid and consistent contributor for India in T20 cricket for a long time and just hasn’t been able to find it of late," Ponting said on ICC review.

"He’s an interesting one because when I’ve seen him play his best, he’s taken six or eight or 10 balls to get going and then just lets it all go.” “He plays all of his shots and backs himself and a bit like Travis Head where it almost looks like they don’t ever fear getting out,” said Ponting. 

According to Ponting, a change in mindset will come in handy to Suryakumar, as that might help him play more freely and find his lost rhythm once again. 

“That’s what I’d say to him. I’d be saying, think about scoring runs, don’t think about getting out. Trust yourself, back yourself. You’re proven to be as good as anybody in the world in the T20 format and go and prove it to everybody once again,” said Ponting. 

The two-time World Cup-winning captain also expressed shock on Shubman Gill’s absence from Team India’s World Cup squad. Gill was the vice-captain until the penultimate T20I series before getting dropped.

“Yeah, I couldn’t believe that. I know his recent form hasn’t been great in white-ball cricket. And the last time that I really saw much of him play was the Test series against England in the UK where he batted as well as I’ve ever seen anybody bat,”, he said. 

The Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will kick off on February 7. India will start their title defence against the USA on the same day, at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Before that, the Men in Blue are scheduled to play a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, offering them a chance to find form and rhythm before the World Cup.