Why Suryakumar Yadav won’t be a good fit in Test cricket, should focus only on white ball cricket

India’s ace destructor Suryakumar Yadav has claimed that he wants to make a comeback to Test cricket. Having played just a solitary Test match back in 2023, SKY is ready to grind in the domestic setup to make it to the red ball format. But it will be unwise for the player to explore Test cricket, wherein he should turn his entire attention to white-ball cricket.

Traditionally known to be a late bloomer, the MR. 360 of Indian Cricket made his Team India debut in 2021, despite playing first class cricket from 2010. Now tipped to be the permanent T20I captain, SKY should turn his entire attention to white ball cricket, especially the shortest format of the game.

Interestingly, SKY hasn’t played any ODI matches after the ICC World Cup 2023 finals. After India’s success in the ICC T20 World Cup final, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from T20Is, and the BCCI Selection Committee and Gautam Gambhir has put their trust on SKY to lead Team India and not Hardik Pandya.

Focus on White Ball Cricket

While SKY continues his preparations in domestic cricket, his aim would be to focus on his batting and seek a comeback into the ODI format given India play the ICC Champions Trophy in February. While he has claimed his desire to return to the Test format, there are quite a few players who are ready to prove their worth in the longest format of the game.

In the upcoming IND vs BAN Test series, KL Rahul makes a comeback after his injury crisis. This has seen Shreyas Iyer struggling for his spot in the team while Rishabh Pant too looks for his comeback. In a domino effect, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan and Druv Jurel will all be warming the bench, awaiting their chance after playing well in the IND vs ENG Test series, earlier this year.

India’s next challenge in T20Is will be to defend their title in the 2026 T20 World Cup. And a lot will reply on the effective leadership capabilities of Suryakumar Yadav. While he can be a great asset in Test format, there simply isn’t a place for him in the team.

Youngsters already await their chance in the team and adding a senior player like SKY on the list creates more competition and a reduced chance for the other players to get their chances. Finally, with eyes set on T20Is, SKY’s primary target once again will be to retake the number 1 spot as the ICC T20I batter.