NAGPUR: Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav said on Tuesday he would not change his style of batting as he bids to stop an alarming slump in form heading into the ICC T20 World Cup.His team face New Zealand in the first game of a five-match T20 International series on Wednesday in Nagpur, ahead of the World Cup starting on Feb 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

But Suryakumar, formerly the ICC’s top-ranked T20 International batsman, has scored just 244 runs across his last 22 innings in the format dating back to October 2024, without a single fifty.

“I have been batting really well [in the nets],” Suryakumar, who is set to play his 100th T20 International in the series opener, told reporters.

“And also talking about the runs, it will definitely come but at the same time I can’t do things differently. I don’t want to change my identity.

Suryakumar has flourished as a leader despite his personal struggles with the bat, leading India to six consecutive bi-lateral series wins and victory in last year’s T20 Asia Cup.

“What has given me success in the past three, four years, I would like to bat the same way. And then if [the] performance comes I will take it, if it doesn’t I will go back to the drawing board, practise again, work hard and come back stronger.”

Suryakumar, 35, boasts a punishing T20 International strike-rate of 163.23, although that does drop slightly as skipper. He took over the T20 captaincy full-time when Rohit Sharma stepped down following India’s World Cup triumph in 2024.

India are favourites to defend their World Cup title, sitting top of the ICC rankings and unbeaten in T20 series since a 3-2 loss to the West Indies in August 2023.

“If I have to take everyone’s responsibility, then I will have to think well about the team,” said Suryakumar.

“In that, I think there is no room for personal milestone. It’s a team sport. Everyone has to step up; everyone has to do well.”

Batter Tilak Varma and spinner Washington Sundar are both racing against time to be fit for the World Cup despite being named in the squad.

Ishan Kishan will return to the team against New Zealand for the first time since 2023 after being recalled to the squad, with Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill a surprise omission.

India were beaten at home in an ODI series by New Zealand for the first time ever earlier this month.

An under-strength Black Caps backed up their remarkable maiden Test series win in India, when they powered to a 3-0 clean sweep in 2024.

MILNE, BRACEWELL SUFFER INJURIES

New Zealand’s preparations for the T20 World Cup suffered a setback with fast bowler Adam Milne and all-rounder Michael Bracewell sustaining injuries.

Milne injured his left hamstring while bowling for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 on Sunday and is currently being assessed, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Bracewell suffered a left calf strain while fielding in the third and final ODI against India in Indore on Sunday.

“Bracewell will be treated and monitored over the coming days before a decision on his further involvement in the tour is confirmed,” the NZC said.

All-rounder Kristian Clarke has been added to the squad as cover for their first three T20 Internationals against India.

“We’ve got a fair bit of player movement at the moment with some guys returning from injury for this series, others joining us immediately from franchise cricket and the rest coming off the India ODI series,” coach Rob Walter said.

“We want to ensure we’ve got enough pace-bowling options for the first three games of this series and it’s a great opportunity for Kristian to stay on with the group a little longer on his first tour of India.

“He certainly showcased his talent in the ODI series, but what was particularly impressive was his calmness and ability to perform under pressure.”New Zealand begin their World Cup campaign in Group ‘D’ against Afghanistan in Chennai on Feb 8.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2026