Suryakumar Yadav discussed the growth of T20 cricket in recent years and how he has adjusted his batting style in an interview ahead of the IPL 2025 Eliminator between the Gujarat Titans and the Mumbai Indians in New Chandigarh. The top batter agreed that T20 cricket has changed slightly in recent years.

The unconventional batter said that the method of scoring and striking in the centre had changed. He claimed that before the pandemic, his strike rate was between 140 and 150. He did, however, admit that in order to be the best, he needed to improve his batting. The top hitter stated that he used a lot of match simulations and completed inventive shots to transform into an entirely different batter.

“In my perspective, the T20 format has evolved slightly. Striking-wise, run banaane ke tareeke (the way to score runs) altered slightly. Suryakumar told Star Sports in a video posted on social media that he used to bat with a strike rate of 140-150.

“After 2020-21, I realised that if you want to be the best, you have to play 3-4 seasons (I played 3-4 seasons before then, which was OK), and I asked myself what I needed to do. Return to the drawing room and run a bunch of match simulations. All of the inventive shots you’re seeing are primarily the result of a change in my game in 2020,” the Indian skipper remarked.

Behind every no-look and scoop lies hours in the nets.

🗣️ @surya_14kumar talks prep, patience & perfection ahead of the big #MI vs #GT clash.

Will #SKY shine again when it matters most? 🌟

Watch #MI Central every @mipaltan match day on JioHotstar. #IPLPlayoffs Eliminator 👉… pic.twitter.com/1I2XJOK7Ig

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 30, 2025

I don’t try anything new on the nets: Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar went on to say that his main goal was to focus on locations where he could score more runs and stay ahead of his opponents’ captains and players. The unorthodox hitter claimed that he practiced several unorthodox shots and used them in his games regardless of the bowler, and that it helped him mature into a better version of himself.

“Aur kaun sa area hai jo ground mai utilise kiya jaa sakta hai, acche se?” Who is going to run? (Which part of the ground can I use the most to score runs?) How can I go ahead of other teams, captains, and bowlers? Is there a spot where I may keep scoring runs without being dismissed? These were the things I asked myself,” the Michigan hitter explained.

“Between 2021 and 2022, I began playing these shots and became completely different. I kept backing myself, regardless of who was bowling. I always appreciated what I performed during practice sessions and wanted to duplicate it during the game. “I don’t do anything different in practice,” the star player stated.