India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has surprised everyone with his dream T20 XI, leaving out some of the country’s biggest cricket stars

He shared his team while talking to former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Ashwin’s YouTube channel. Varun picked an attacking team full of players in good form right now. But he left out great players from India like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni, who have been huge names in T20 cricket for many years.

He chose players who have done really well in recent seasons, especially in franchise leagues around the world. Only three Indians made it into his team, all known for their ability to win games on their own.

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Which Indians did Varun Chakravarthy pick?

He chose Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya. But what really got people talking was who he left out. Kohli is the top run-scorer in IPL history and RCB won the 2025 title. Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni have each won the IPL five times as captains.

VARUN CHAKARAVARTHY PICKS HIS DREAM T20 11 🥶

[Rule - Players he has played with] pic.twitter.com/TaMwAYtuw9

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 30, 2025

Jos Buttler from England and Australia’s Travis Head as the openers, both known for fast starts and big hitting. In the middle order, he picked West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran and South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen, who are strong hitters of the ball. His all-rounders are Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, his trusted KKR teammates who can win matches with both bat and ball. For bowling, he included Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, Sri Lanka’s young fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, and India’s Jasprit Bumrah. The other Indians in his team are Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav. Varun’s team shows he likes players who are doing well right now in T20 cricket even if it means leaving out some of India’s biggest and most successful names.

Varun Chakravarthy’s Dream T20 XI

Jos Buttler, Travis Head, Suryakumar Yadav, Nicholas Pooran, Heinrich Klaasen, Hardik Pandya, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, Matheesha Pathirana

The T20I captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav, has recently undergone a successful sports hernia surgery in Munich, Germany. It is also reported that he is recovering well. The talismanic India batter is known for his aggressive batting style and cool and calm, composed nature both on and off the field. The right-hand batter was last seen in action during the IPL 2025 season, where the India T20 skipper played a very pivotal role in the Mumbai Indians' (MI) campaign to the playoffs. In the process, the 34-year-old also made headlines by setting a new world record of scoring the most number of consecutive 25-plus scores (16). Suryakumar also ended the tournament with 717 runs, which was also the highest by any non-opener, and it was also the most ever by a MI batter in a single season.

Meanwhile, India are currently engaged in a five-match Test series against England in the United Kingdom, which is scheduled to conclude in the first week of August. After the red-ball campaign ends, India will return to limited-overs cricket with a tour of Bangladesh. The white-ball series includes three ODIs followed by three T20Is. The T20I leg begins on August 29, where fans are hopeful that a fully recovered Suryakumar Yadav might make his return to international action.

See Also: Ravichandran Ashwin has special request for Gautam Gambhir after Rishabh Pant’s stunning knock in 1st Test vs England

“Life Update: Underwent surgery for a sports hernia in the lower right abdomen. Grateful to share that after a smooth surgery, I’m already on the road to recovery. Can’t wait to be back," Suryakumar posted on Instagram about the successful surgery.

A positive update from Suryakumar Yadav following surgery to his hernia.

More 👉 https://t.co/YwolX7vp23 pic.twitter.com/KUObJt5Xwe

— ICC (@ICC) June 26, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav has been exceptional captain

Suryakumar Yadav has not featured in a Test match since February 2023 or an ODI since the 50-over World Cup final later that year. With a lengthy break before India's upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, he found the perfect window to undergo hernia surgery. Now in recovery, Suryakumar aims to regain fitness in time for the T20Is starting August 29. After India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, Suryakumar succeeded Rohit Sharma as T20I captain and has since led a young Indian side with great maturity and consistency.

Since taking over the T20I leadership, Suryakumar Yadav has worked closely with head coach Gautam Gambhir, his former Kolkata Knight Riders teammate. Together, they’ve steered India to remarkable success in the shortest format. Under Suryakumar’s captaincy, India has won 19 of 24 T20Is, lost only four, and had one tie that resulted in a Super Over victory against Sri Lanka. His leadership continues to draw praise for its composure and strategic acumen.

 Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain and one of the most exciting batters in world cricket, is currently recovering after undergoing hernia surgery in Munich. He shared the update himself on Instagram, saying he’s already feeling better and can’t wait to get back on the field. With the Test team busy in England and a bit of a gap in his white-ball schedule, the timing worked out well for him to take care of this and focus on recovery.

Before the surgery, SKY was in blazing form during IPL 2025. He racked up 717 runs the most ever by a non-opener in a single IPL season, and also Mumbai Indians record. Even more impressive, he notched up 16 scores of 25+ in a row something no one’s ever done before in T20 cricket. His consistent fireworks were a huge reason MI made it to the playoffs, and it was clear he wasn’t just playing well he was leading with intent.

With Rohit Sharma, virat kohli stepping away from T20s after the 2024 World Cup, a lot changed. SKY was handed the reins, and under his leadership, India’s T20 side started playing a much more aggressive, fearless brand of cricket. That’s what makes his comeback so important ahead of the Bangladesh T20Is starting August 26.

ALSO READ: MLC 2025: SEO vs SFU Dream11 Prediction 16th Match Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI

Suryakumar Yadav: The Face of India’s Fearless New-Age T20 Revolution

Everyone’s looking forward to Suryakumar’s return not just for his batting, but for the kind of cricket he inspires. Since he took over, India’s T20 team has been rewriting what’s possible in the format. They’ve crossed 250 multiple times and even smashed 297 against Bangladesh last year the second-highest total in T20I history.

With the 2026 T20 World Cup around the corner, SKY’s leadership and form could be the difference-maker. If he returns fully fit and firing, India will not only get back their most explosive batter, but also a calm, confident captain who leads by example. His comeback couldn’t be better timed and Indian fans are counting down the days.

India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, is in London undergoing treatment for a sports hernia, keeping him away from cricketing action for the next few weeks. The right-handed batsman, who is celebrated for his flamboyant strokeplay, is making use of the breather in India's limited-overs schedule to get his fitness sorted and ensure he comes back fully fit. News24 reports that the surgery on the right side of his abdomen is set to take place next week, and a tentative return is planned around August.

As Suryakumar recovers abroad, the Indian Test squad, captained by Shubman Gill, is deep in training for the forthcoming five-match home Test series against England. India's T20I pillar in the last few years, Yadav, 34, is likely to return to the side in time for the white-ball tour of Bangladesh in August. Though BCCI hasn't announced the development officially, reports suggest the healing from the medical procedure could take nearly two months.

The move to undergo surgery at this point seems timely. India does not have another T20 assignment until August, which will provide Suryakumar with the recovery time required for a complete recovery before a cluttered T20 schedule featuring home series against South Africa and the West Indies, as well as a crucial tour of Australia leading into the 2026 T20 World Cup.

IPL Heroics and Recent Form

Prior to when his injury issues arose, Suryakumar was scorching hot throughout the IPL 2025 campaign. At the top of the batting list for Mumbai Indians, he had scored 717 runs in 16 matches at a mind-boggling average of 65.18 and strike rate of 167.9. Most notably, he had scored 25+ in all 16 innings—a T20 world record for consistency at the highest level.

See Also: Watch: Najmul Hossain Shanto's celebration after smashing his sixth century in SL vs BAN 1st Test

Post-IPL, he played for Triumph Knights MNE in the Mumbai T20 League but with less success. The side posted only one win in five games and did not make it to the playoffs, with Suryakumar scoring 122 runs in five matches. Apart from this temporary decline, his overall game is an essential strength as India makes its way to the T20 World Cup plan.

The 2025 T20 Mumbai League ended with a bang for Prithvi Shaw as he smashed a stunning 75 runs off only 34 balls to lead the North Mumbai Panthers to a comfortable victory against Suryakumar Yadav's Triumph Knights Mumbai North East. Shaw was ably supported by Harshal Jadhav, who played a fluent inning of 46 runs, as the Panthers posted an imposing total of 208. In reply, the Triumph Knights were bowled out for 169 runs, and Shaw's side took the game comfortably.

Meanwhile, Wankhede Stadium threw up a treat for spectators as Eagle Thane Strikers beat ARCS Andheri and SOBO Mumbai Falcons overcame Aakash Tigers MWS. These wins brought the league stage of the tournament to a stunning conclusion, raising expectations for the semifinals to come. Four teams — Bandra Blasters, Eagle Thane Strikers, SoBo Mumbai Falcons, and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals — have reached the knockout stage.

The semifinals are set to take place on June 10 at the Wankhede Stadium, with the championship match on June 12. Simultaneously, fans are excited to see the international superstar Shreyas Iyer and the many young Mumbai stars, including Atharva Ankolekar, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Harsh Aghav. We have some special performances this tournament and are ready for a strong finish.

Stars Shine Bright in League Stage

Suved Parkar of Bandra Blasters currently wears the Orange Cap, having topped the run charts thanks to his explosive 76 off 37 balls in a record 118-run opening partnership with Vikrant Auti. Shashank Attarde leads the bowling charts with the Purple Cap for Eagle Thane Strikers, while Sairaj Patil has also impressed with his aggressive batting.

Also Read: Mumbai T20 2025, Match 19: North Mumbai Panthers vs Triumph Knights MNE Full Match Highlights

In the last league match, Parkar and Auti led the Bandra Blasters to an eight-wicket victory over MSC Maratha Royals, tracking down a target of 151 runs with more than four overs to spare. Dhrumil Matkar 4/26 had earlier restricted the Royals to a low total, which started a blistering chase that cemented the Blasters' position in the semifinal.

AB de Villiers, during the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 commentary, hailed Suryakumar Yadav as the "Mr. 360 of the modern era." This statement reflects Yadav's extraordinary ability to play shots all around the wicket, reminiscent of de Villiers' own iconic style. His innovative and versatile batting makes it nearly impossible for bowlers to set fields against him.

De Villiers was specifically impressed by Yadav's unique blend of further finesse and unbridled power. With Yadav's range of adaptability and inventive shot selection pointing to direct comparison with the great South African. His untraditional skills and 360 scoring patterns, make him a content T20 match-winner, who can easily disturb the more disciplined bowling attacks.

The term Mr. 360 represents the batsman's ability to score runs from every angle possible. He has demoralized the opposition with his hard-hitting runs yet is capable of doing so quickly in high-pressure situations - wonderful to watch. Referred to by de Villiers during the key qualifier clash, we saw how Yadav can dominate and single-handedly shift the momentum as a one-man wrecking crew.

Suryakumar Yadav's Impactful Performance in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2

In the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 hosted at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar Yadav scored a vital 44 runs from 27 balls on this occasion against Punjab Kings. His dynamic innings featured trademark lofted cover drives and inventive shots to keep the Mumbai Indians' momentum going and set a challenging target.

Watch the video here

🚨Big breaking🚨

AB de Villiers just confirmed Surya Kumar Yadav is the Mr 360 of modern Era #MIvsPBKS
pic.twitter.com/2rRVEnpwbC

— Immy|| 🇮🇳 (@TotallyImro45) June 1, 2025

Also Read: WATCH: Arshdeep Singh reflects on Shreyas Iyer's captaincy for PBKS in IPL 2025

Mumbai Indians scored a tough 203/6 in 20 overs, with Yadav's involvement being crucial. Yadav's ability to accelerate under pressure swung the match in MI's favor. MI gave the Punjab Kings a daunting run rate to chase, assisted with MI's tight bowling during their chase, and Yadav's impact was felt throughout the match.

The disconcerted bowlers of Gujarat Titans (GT) had to face hurdle after hurdle in the Eliminator match of IPL 2025 against Mumbai at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Once they got rid of Jonny Bairstow, then they faced an in-form Suryakumar Yadav. The batter on strike was different, but the result was the same—a maximum on a well-guided ball by Gerald Coetzee. 

The newly formed opening pair of Mumbai Indians with Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow proved lit when both of the experienced batters started to swing their blades mercilessly at the opponent team bowlers. Prasidh Krishna was the bowler who suffered most of the wrath from Bairstow. After his departure at an individual of 47, Suryakumar Yadav stepped into the field to join Rohit Sharma, who was already on fire at that moment. 

Yadav chose to take the matter easy and stitched a fine and effective partnership with the former skipper of the Mumbai Indians. Two stalwarts of Mumbai put together 59 runs on the scoreboard, while Suryakumar snatched 33 off 20 with a 165.0 strike rate. The right-handed batter decorated his innings with 3 over boundaries and 1 boundary. One of those 6s came against a well-placed bouncer by Gerald Coetzee. 

Read More: [WATCH] IPL 2025: Jonny Bairstow smash 26 runs off Prasidh Krishna in Eliminator match between GT and MI

A shining Surya and Mumbai Indians 

The South African international hit the deck with around 141 km/h delivery for a chest-height bouncer, middle and slightly off, the territory of Suryakumar Yadav, who pulled out his own pull shot, the supra. He transferred the weight to the back foot, slightly positioned himself towards the middle, and then pulled the trigger for the well-crafted six over the deep square leg region. Coetzee was helpless and had nothing to do at that moment but to watch the ball floating high into the stand. 

With the combined batting performance, the five-time IPL-winning franchise found themselves in the driver's seat from the first innings of the Eliminator 1 match. They scored 228 for 5 wickets in the 20-over limit, Rohit Sharma, their star batter of the evening, with 81 off 50. 

Watch the beautiful 6 here

Mr. 360° for a reason! 😎🔥

A well-directed bouncer from Coetzee, but #SKY picks it early and sends it soaring over fine leg for a MAXIMUM! 🚀

LIVE NOW ➡ https://t.co/ratPT4LZKS#IPLPlayoffs | Eliminator 👉 #GTvMI on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar!#MumbaiIndians… pic.twitter.com/nMXCUn1FT6

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 30, 2025

Mumbai Indians legend Suryakumar Yadav created history by scoring another half-century in their last IPL 2025 league stage game against Punjab Kings in Jaipur on Monday evening (May 26). 

It is an important game for both teams, as both are fighting for the top two places in the final IPL 2025 points table, and only a win can ensure it for them. After Punjab Kings chose to field first, MI scored 184/7 in 20 overs, where Suryakumar Yadav played another heroic knock, his 14th consecutive 25+ score in T20 cricket. 

[WATCH] IPL 2025: Nehal Wadhera brilliant catch dismisses Rohit Sharma in PBKS vs MI match

Suryakumar Yadav: 1st MI to score 600+ runs for two seasons; recorded most runs for MI in an IPL season

Suryakumar Yadav scored 57 off 39 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. With this knock, he ended the IPL 2025 league stage with 640 runs in 14 innings with an average of 71.11 and a strike rate of 167.97, including five half-centuries. In the following, we have brought some of his key stats from the match. 

• SKY became the first Mumbai Indians batter to record 600+ runs in two seasons. Previously, the right-handed batter recorded 605 runs in the IPL 2023. 
• SKY recorded the most runs in an IPL season by a Mumbai Indians batter. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was the previous record holder with 618 runs during the IPL 2010. 
• With his 14th 25+ scores in T20 cricket format, SKY broke the record for the most consecutive 25+ scores in T20 cricket, which the South African cricketer Temba Bavuma previously held. 
• With 32 sixes, SKY recorded the most sixes for Mumbai Indians in an IPL season. During the IPL 2008, Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 31 sixes. 

Sky#sky#suryakumaryadav pic.twitter.com/TkfLZrk3P7

— RVCJ Sports (@RVCJ_Sports) May 26, 2025

SURYAKUMAR YADAV IN THIS IPL 2025:

29(26), 48(28), 27*(9), 67(43), 28(26), 40(28), 26(15), 68*(30), 40*(19), 54(28), 48*(23), 35(24), 73*(43), 57(39).

- The Best T20 Batter in the World. 🔥#PBKSvsMI #PBKSvMI #IPL2025 #MIvsPBKS #MIvPBKS #Lahore #SuryakumarYadav pic.twitter.com/vcUdFb7BAP

— RO_KO 🏏 (@MohammadFa83199) May 26, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav #SuryakumarYadav #MIvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/nBLBaiwA3A

— GSMS Media (@GsmsMedia) May 26, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav has now registered a 25+ score in 14 consecutive innings - a new T20 record.#IPL2025 #IPL #SuryaKumarYadav #MI pic.twitter.com/SOOpl7WXy4

— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) May 26, 2025

Surya dada's performance day by day>>>#SuryakumarYadav #MIvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/PVHtOVjvCF

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) May 26, 2025

Most consecutive scores of 25+ in Men's T20s:

14* - Suryakumar Yadav 🇮🇳
13 - Temba Bavuma 🇿🇦
11 - Brad Hodge 🇦🇺
11 - Jacques Rudolph 🇿🇦
11 - Kumar Sangakkara 🇱🇰
11 - Chris Lynn 🇦🇺
11 - Kyle Mayers 🌴#SuryakumarYadav makes T20 history!🐐#SuryakumarYadav𓃵 #MIvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/oTioRzzaaN

— 𝐈𝐂𝐓 ᴬᵁᴿᴬ🇮🇳 (@AURAICTT) May 26, 2025

On Monday evening (May 26), the Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians (PBKS vs MI) match will be played in the 69th game of the IPL 2025 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. They will face each other for the first time this season. Here, we are going through the Dream11 top captains and vice-captains choices for the PBKS vs MI match. 

IPL 2025, Match 69: PBKS vs MI Probable XIs

Punjab Kings Predicted Playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh/Praveen Dubey (Impact Players Sub), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Josh Inglis, Azmatullah Omarzai/Kyle Jamieson, Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar

Mumbai Indians Predicted Playing XI: Rohit Sharma/Karn Sharma (Impact Players), Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Will Jacks, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

See Also: IPL 2025: PBKS vs MI Match 69 - A Head to Head breakdown

IPL 2025, Match 69: PBKS vs MI Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Dream11 Captain choices

Jasprit Bumrah: Since his return to the IPL 2025, Jasprit Bumrah has quickly picked up his familiar form with the ball. He is the second most wicket-taker for MI this season with 16 wickets in nine games. He recorded at least two wickets in their last four games, including one four-wicket haul. 

Shreyas Iyer: PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer is their leading run-scorer in this IPL season with 488 runs in 13 innings, with an average of 48.80 and a strike rate of 172.43. He has recorded five half-centuries this season. His last five innings' scores were 25*, 72, 45, 30, and 53 runs, respectively. 

Suryakumar Yadav: MI star Suryakumar Yadav is the third leading run-scorer in the IPL 2025 with 583 runs in 13 innings with an average of 72.87 and a strike rate of 170.46, including four half-centuries. His last six innings' scores were 68*, 40*, 54, 48*, 35, and 73*, respectively.  

Top 3 Dream11 Vice-captain choices

Prabhsimran Singh: PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh has scored 486 runs in 13 innings with an average of 37.38 and a strike rate of 170.52, including four half-centuries. Before the IPL 2025 suspension, Singh recorded three consecutive 50+ scores.

Trent Boult: MI left-arm pacer Trent Boult is the leading wicket-taker for his team this IPL season with 19 wickets in 13 games. In their last five matches, Boult picked up at least three wickets in the first three straight games. 

Harpreet Brar: PBKS pacer Harpreet Brar has lately shone, as he has taken nine wickets in five innings. In his last two matches, Brar took at least two wickets in each game. 

When two pillars of the Mumbai Indians (MI) batting lineup collapsed against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on match 63 of IPL 2025, it was Suryakumar Yadav who stood solid like an iron barricade and swung his blade when he saw opportunities to score quickly.

Yadav remained unbeaten on a sluggish Wankhede Stadium wicket for 73 runs off 43 deliveries and helped MI to post 180 in the first innings. It was not the first time when the decorated batter pulled one of the most successful IPL teams out of the mud.

When iconic figures like Sachin Tendulkar, Lasith Malinga, Rohit Sharma, and many others shared the same dugout, then stars like Suryakumar Yadav often went behind their shadows. But when a cricket enthusiast searches about the right-handed batter's contribution to the five-time IPL-winning franchise, then the person can understand that his nickname is 'SKY,' who has no limit.

Read More: Major Update on Team India selection and captain for England series

From IPL 2018, SKY has been playing for Mumbai for a constant 8 years, where 2023 came as his most successful season for him with 605 runs in 16 matches. If Mumbai MI qualifies for the playoffs in the ongoing campaign, then Yadav can get a few more matches to add more runs to his profile. He currently has 583 runs in 13 matches, close to his best of 605. 

- 605 runs in IPL 2023.
- 583 runs in IPL 2025.
- 512 runs in IPL 2018.
- 480 runs in IPL 2020.
- 424 runs in IPL 2019.

ONE OF THE GREATEST EVER OF MI, SURYAKUMAR YADAV 💙 pic.twitter.com/UtPoYgt3hk

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 21, 2025

List of runs Suryakumar Yadav bagged in the last 5 IPL for Mumbai Indians:

- 605 runs in IPL 2023.

- 583 runs in IPL 2025.

- 512 runs in IPL 2018.

- 480 runs in IPL 2020.

- 424 runs in IPL 2019.