Irfan Pathan’s fix for Suryakumar Yadav: play straighter early ahead of MI v CSK

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has a straightforward suggestion for Suryakumar Yadav, who has struggled for runs this IPL season. With Mumbai Indians facing Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, April 23, Pathan believes the batter needs to keep things simple early in his innings.

Pathan’s diagnosis

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan said Mumbai’s hopes of a top-four finish depend on runs from Suryakumar’s bat. He pointed to a golden duck earlier this season as a sign that the batter is not managing to build an innings.

According to Pathan, Suryakumar has been getting out in the first 10 balls while playing too square on both sides of the wicket. His advice was to aim to score straight for a few deliveries at the start, which he felt would make Suryakumar unstoppable.

Last season’s numbers

Pathan recalled how dominant Suryakumar was in 2025, when he made 717 runs at an average of 65.18 and a strike rate of 167.91. Those runs played a major part in Mumbai finishing in the top four, and Pathan argued that a small adjustment could bring that form back.

Both sides need a result

The stakes are high for the five-time champions. Mumbai and Chennai are both in the lower half of the table, each on four points from six matches, which makes Thursday’s meeting an important one for their campaigns.