Suryakumar Yadav has awestruck everyone with his batting skills, whether playing in the IPL or in international cricket. Recently, his heroic catch in the T20 World Cup was one of the key reasons for India’s triumph. There is no question that Surya has been outstanding in the IPL as well, having played 150 matches and scored over 3,500 runs. With his 360-degree boundary approach, he has been a valuable player for Mumbai Indians.
Surya joined MI in 2012 but was released before the 2014 IPL, when he was bought by KKR. In the 2018 IPL auction, he was bought back by Mumbai Indians for ₹3.2 crore, and there was no looking back since then. However, current IPL rumours suggest that both Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav may leave the MI franchise.
With these rumors swirling, what if Surya leaves the MI camp and joins a new franchise? If that happens, which teams might show the most interest in acquiring this amazing player? Let’s take a look at the IPL teams that may go beyond their limits to bring him into their camp.
Teams that may target SuryaKumar Yadav at IPL 2025
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
There is no doubt that RCB will try to get this 360-degree player into their team. It is interesting to mention that RCB had a player in the past named AB de Villiers, who was known for his boundary-hitting abilities and capability of hitting shots all over the park. Now, if Suryakumar Yadav leaves MI, RCB have a wonderful chance to capitalize and try to get the star batter.
Since Dinesh Karthik, who played for RCB until 2024, has now retired from the team, a spot in the middle order is vacant. Suryakumar Yadav can emulate Karthik’s role, which involved finishing the game and utilizing the middle overs effectively to push the team’s score higher.
Surya, who has usually been successful at the number 4 position, has scored 1,594 runs with a strike rate of 170. There is a possibility that Surya might fill the shoes of Karthik, as Dinesh Karthik used to play the crucial 4-5 overs for RCB. However, Surya can take on this role, where he might get more opportunities than Karthik to build the innings and finish games.
Latest News
Lucknow Super Giants
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will likely try to acquire the star batter primarily due to his experience. With LSG potentially releasing KL Rahul, Surya could not only have the opportunity to join as a player but also potentially become the team’s captain.
Reports suggest that KL Rahul might move to another franchise, which would mean LSG would be losing both their captain and a key batter. In this scenario, it is highly likely that LSG will exceed their budget to acquire Surya if he enters the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Also, Surya’s ability to handle pressure makes him an ideal candidate for the team. As LSG is a relatively new franchise, they will seek to bring in experienced players. Having Surya on their side could be a significant advantage.
Punjab Kings
It is fair to say that PBKS is one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, as the team has always struggled to find the right combination. From inconsistent captains to unreliable performers, PBKS have experienced more failure than success. Despite having a strong squad, they have struggled, much like LSG’s situation with Surya Kumar Yadav.
Surya Kumar Yadav, recently announced as the T20I captain with a decent captaincy record, could potentially become the captain of PBKS. The team needs a tactical mind, and Yadav’s experience in leadership could be the solution for PBKS. His batting prowess is well-known, and he might also bring improvements to his game by batting higher up the order, which could benefit both his performance and the team’s consistency, a longstanding issue for PBKS.
The speculation about Surya’s departure intensified when Hardik Pandya was appointed captain, and it was reported that Surya was not impressed with Hardik’s captaincy in the IPL 2024 season. The team had a disappointing season, finishing at the bottom of the table with 4 wins and 10 losses.