'I focused on exploiting specific areas, finding scoring options' - Suryakumar Yadav reveals how he evolved his T20 game

Suryakumar Yadav has gone on to become the poster boy for modern T20 batting. The current India T20I captain and Mumbai Indians stalwart has not only guided new shot-making abilities but also shown how to be consistent in the IPL. The 34-year-old opened up on his evolution and the hard work behind his performances.

The right-hand batter revealed about his initial days with the franchise, where he used to mostly warm the bench, but since 2020, his career has shaped differently both in IPL and international cricket.

“The T20 format has changed a lot in the past few years—scoring rates, strike rates, everything. Earlier, I used to bat at a strike rate of 140–150, but post-2020, I realised that to be the best, I needed to evolve. I went back to the drawing board, worked on match simulations, and started practicing shots that would help me stay ahead of bowlers and captains. From 2021 to 2024, I focused on exploiting specific areas, finding scoring options where I could also minimize risk," he said on JioHotstar’s special show, The Suryakumar Yadav Experience.

This change was evident in IPL 2024, when he hit an unbeaten 102 off 51 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, his second IPL century and one of the most iconic knocks in a successful run-chase for MI. The innings, laced with 12 fours and six sixes, brought Mumbai's campaign back on track.

"Everything I do in matches now, I’ve already practiced—I try to replicate those sessions exactly. Scoring a T20 century felt really special because it came from all that effort and clarity," Surya added.

Carrying the same form into IPL 2025, the veteran batter is currently sitting in the third position of the top run-scorers list. He recently surpassed 4000 IPL runs, becoming the fastest Indian to reach the feat in just 2714 balls. In the match against Lucknow Super Giants at Wankhede, Suryakumar also brought up 150 sixes in the league.

The MI batter has played a huge role in helping his team hold the third spot on the points table after a sluggish start. The five-time champions will be next seen in action against the Rajasthan Royals on May 01 in Jaipur.