Captain Suryakumar Yadav has the shadow of Rohit Sharma, deserves credit: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan believes Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy impact is being overlooked despite India's dominant T20I run. With the World Cup nearing, India's skipper enters the final New Zealand game carrying results, momentum and belief.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is not getting the credit his leadership deserves, despite a remarkable run of results since taking over the role. Pathan feels Suryakumar’s style and impact as captain carry clear shades of Rohit Sharma, particularly in the way he manages players and leads from the front.

Speaking to RevSportz, Pathan questioned why the Indian skipper’s achievements have largely flown under the radar.

“We don't celebrate Surya – the captain as much, for whatever reason. His win percentage as captain in T20Is is 84 per cent, it is the highest we have. Why are we not celebrating him as captain? People don't give him as much credit,” Pathan said.

“He is a bowler's leader. I see a shadow of Rohit Sharma on him, by the way he takes care of the bowlers, he is very animated, very much involved in the game, and many times he takes the right decision for the team,” he added.

After taking over from Rohit Sharma following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup success, Suryakumar Yadav has guided the side through a seamless transition. His aggressive, fearless approach, in sync with head coach Gautam Gambhir’s vision, has delivered consistently, with India winning 31 of 41 T20Is, clinching the Asia Cup 2025 and remaining unbeaten across seven bilateral series.

While Suryakumar’s leadership numbers have been outstanding, his personal form with the bat had come under scrutiny last year. The Indian captain endured a difficult 2025, managing just 218 runs in 21 matches at an average below 14. Pathan, however, stressed how important it was for the skipper to rediscover his rhythm before the T20 World Cup.