Suryakumar Yadav, the 35-year-old former World Cup-winning captain, has made a huge statement regarding his prospects of returning to the national side after being dropped from recent squads. The Mumbai Indians batter was stripped of the captaincy and omitted from white-ball tours following India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2026, which he led to victory as skipper for a second consecutive title win.

Suryakumar addressed his situation directly, expressing his commitment to earning a recall through consistent performances. He stated that he remains focused on his domestic and franchise cricket responsibilities while keeping his eyes on a potential return to international cricket.

“Look, I’m putting in all the hard work and doing everything I can. If things go well, then everything will fall into place, Suryakumar was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

Why Suryakumar lost his India spot

Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles began during the T20 World Cup 2026, where he failed to make a significant impact with the bat. His only notable contribution came in India’s opening match against the USA. Despite his limited returns, he went on to lead India to the T20 World Cup title.

The difficult phase continued into IPL 2026. His form had deteriorated significantly, and he endured a challenging campaign, scoring just 270 runs in 13 matches at an average of 20.76. He managed only two half-centuries throughout the tournament, further raising questions over his place in India’s T20 setup.

The decision to drop Suryakumar also factored in the two-year cycle before the next global event, with selectors looking ahead to future planning. At 35 years of age, the BCCI has indicated that doors remain open for the batter if he can demonstrate consistent form in domestic cricket.

BCCI’s stance on his future

A BCCI source stated that Suryakumar is not part of current plans but acknowledged his potential return. The doors are still open for Suryakumar Yadav. He is not part of the current plans, but if he consistently scores runs in domestic cricket, he will certainly be considered for selection, the source said.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar continues to play a key role for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He remains an important member of the franchise’s batting lineup and is also serving as brand ambassador of the Pro Govinda League, maintaining his presence in professional cricket while working towards an international comeback.

India won the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0, with the second Test at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, ending in a draw on August 27, 2026. During the match, Mohammed Siraj seemingly bowled at a slower pace and used a shorter run-up, prompting questions about his physical condition. He also landed heavily while attempting to field a catch during Sri Lanka’s first innings, which intensified speculation about a possible injury heading into the series conclusion.

India Captain Shubman Gill addressed the fitness concerns in his post-match comments, clarifying the circumstances surrounding Siraj’s recent performance. Siraj had last played international cricket against Afghanistan in June, meaning he had been absent from competitive action for nearly two months before the series began.

“Firstly, Siraj is not injured. He didn’t feel well even in the first match (at Galle). He last played against Afghanistan in June…so he was playing after almost a couple of months. It takes time for someone to come back to the rhythm,” Gill was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

“Even in the first Test, we felt that his pace was slow. But sometimes when you play more, you come back to the rhythm. But as far as the injury is concerned, there is nothing,” he added.

Gill’s assessment placed Siraj’s recent form in the context of match rhythm rather than physical injury. The first Test at Galle International Stadium began on August 15, 2026. Gill indicated that the bowler’s pace in the opening match was noticeably slower, but he viewed this as a natural consequence of the extended layoff rather than an injury concern.

Pitch conditions and India’s attacking approach

On the Colombo pitch, Gill acknowledged the challenges India faced in converting their advantage into a series-clinching victory. Sri Lanka batted through the final day with Sonal Dinusha scoring an unbeaten 133, allowing the hosts to secure a draw. India had reduced Sri Lanka to 229 for 6 by the end of the fourth day but could not force the remaining wickets on the final day.

“It gets very frustrating. We attacked a lot in the beginning. But I think as the match went on, the wicket got slower. It was not like the ball was not moving and when the ball was spinning, the wickets were not in play. It was not like the wicket was very flat,” Gill added.

Prasidh Krishna’s standout bowling performance

Despite the frustration of not securing a second Test victory, Gill highlighted the standout performance of fast bowler Prasidh Krishna throughout the series. Krishna had been instrumental in India’s bowling attack during the campaign. Gill emphasised the value of having a reliable bowler who could create opportunities when conditions were not favourable.

“I think he’s been in the pick of our bowlers. When things are not happening, he’s been our go-to bowler, especially this season. He’s created chances, which is what I want as a captain. We want a go-to bowler when wickets are not guaranteed. I think he did that brilliantly,” Gill concluded.

Shreyanka Patil has dismissed criticism over her social media activity, stating that she enjoys dancing and wearing the clothes she chooses. The India batter faced trolling after posting a reel dancing to ‘Babli Badmaash Hai’, a track from the 2013 Bollywood film Shootout at Wadala. Patil recently addressed the negative comments directly and explained her perspective on online criticism.

The 24-year-old expressed confidence in her choices and rejected the notion that trolling affects her outlook or decisions. She emphasised that both appreciation and criticism serve her interests and that she remains comfortable with her public presence.

“I mean, honestly, it gives me a lot of attention. People are actually seeing me and saying, ‘Oh, she’s doing so well.’ Whether you troll me, criticise me or appreciate me, I think it’s all for my good. I don’t see trolls as trolls because I love what I’m doing. I love being on Instagram, I love dancing, and I love wearing the dresses I want to wear,” Patil said while speaking at an India Today event.

“I’m not shy about saying that because I’m comfortable with who I am. I’m comfortable dancing to any song and doing what makes me happy. I love doing what I love, and trolls are just going to remain trolls. They’re probably just jealous that I’m doing well,” she added.

Patil’s journey back to cricket has been marked by significant physical challenges. She picked up an ankle injury during India’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Netherlands at Headingley, rolling her ankle while fielding in the fifth over. After returning to international cricket earlier in 2026 following a 16-month absence, she faced another setback with this injury during the marquee event.

A web series took retirement thoughts away from Shreyanka’s mind

The ankle injury prompted serious doubts about her future in the sport. Patil spoke to her coach Arjun Dev about potentially quitting cricket after the World Cup injury. She questioned whether continuing to play was worth the physical toll of repeated injuries and the emotional burden they created.

However, the web series Operation Safed Sagar proved transformative in reshaping her outlook on sport and sacrifice. Patil recognised that the characters in it demonstrated a willingness to give their lives for their country, which contrasted sharply with her own situation in professional cricket.

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“Actually, what changed my life after this injury was watching Operation Safed Sagar. After the injury during the World Cup, I told my coach, who was sitting right here, that I didn’t want to play cricket anymore. I was done with it.” Patil said.

“I kept asking myself, ‘Why me? Why am I getting injured so many times?’ I don’t want to get emotional, but those feelings are still inside me. I wondered why I should play cricket just to keep getting injured. But then I watched this series, and it completely changed my perspective. I realised that there, even with one second here and there, you can give your life for your country. But here, whether you fail or do well, you can wake up and play on the field again. There’s nothing like that—you can have a bad day and still wake up and play the same sport you love,” she added.