Suryakumar Yadav continues to carry the faith of the Mumbai Indians hierarchy, and that support is understandable given the standing he has built for himself in T20 cricket. However, the returns have kept slipping for MI, with another worrying outing at IPL 2026 arriving on Sunday when he was dismissed for a golden duck against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur.
How the golden duck unfolded in Raipur
Yadav’s absence from the squad’s trip to Raipur was a factor of timing, though not by choice. After Mumbai’s previous match, he took a short break and did not travel with the team. He was at home for the birth of his second child, then rejoined the camp only the day before the game to lead the side in Hardik Pandya’s absence due to injury.
Despite that late return, Yadav failed to convert his opportunity. Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck with a fuller delivery clocked at 138 kph, landing just outside the off stump. The ball carried seam movement that unsettled the batter’s timing. Suryakumar tried to answer by moving across and swinging hard at the drive, but the contact was thick enough to find the edge—sending the ball straight to Virat Kohli at first slip. Kohli dived low to his right and completed the dismissal.
Surya’s IPL 2026 numbers and past golden ducks
This was the second time in the season that Yadav had gone back to the pavilion for a duck of that kind. The earlier instance came last month at the Wankhede Stadium against Punjab Kings.
- After the Raipur dismissal, his IPL 2026 average dropped further to 17.73.
- That figure is his lowest since 2017, when he made 105 runs in 10 innings at an average of 17.50.
- His overall worst IPL average came in 2015, when he finished with 17.44.
- Despite the recent struggles, he has managed 195 runs in 11 innings in IPL 2026.
Mahela Jayawardene backs him through the slump
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene believes the experienced batter can work his way out of the rut, stressing that the solution is not panic but continued belief. He pointed out that Yadav’s track record in the format shows enough resilience to handle phases when outcomes don’t swing his way.
Jayawardene’s message was built around trust—trust in the process and trust in his own instincts—while also acknowledging that even elite players can go through patches that feel stubborn.
- Jayawardene said that batting slumps and confusing stretches can happen to anyone, even when a player has proven ability.
- He urged ongoing conversations around staying confident in the thought process and backing one’s skills in the situation.
- He described Yadav as “unorthodox,” suggesting that his style remains a core part of how he finds solutions.
- He noted that Yadav has had “three, four brilliant years” for MI, not only in the most recent season.
- Jayawardene added that people can have a short run that doesn’t go their way, but the batter is expected to respond with the same approach and a smile.
With Yadav’s form under pressure after another golden duck, MI’s immediate priority remains clear: keeping him in the rhythm of backing himself, even as the numbers in IPL 2026 continue to test that faith.
