Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India’s T20 team, says that he is prepared to contend for a place in the Indian Test side.
COIMBATORE: Sri Lanka’s recent T20I series marked not only Gautam Gambhir’s first coaching assignment with India, but also Suryakumar Yadav’s beginning as the full time captain in this format.
At the end of the work both Gambhir and Suryakumar were all smiles again after crushing Lankans 3-0.
Underneath his own name his backer Gambhir, one of the most aggressive hitters in any form of cricket, could not have asked for better results when acting as skipper. On occasions when it was called for, the 33 year old did not fear attempting new things and this unconventional move helped India clinch an unlikely victory in the third and final match.
According to Suryakumar, Gambhir’s decision of granting team members a “free hand” has helped players express themselves. This is amazing in the way he (Gambhir) played his cricket for India. He knows what every player likes doing on ground and during practice sessions. Says Suryakumar who is in Coimbatore to represent Mumbai in the Buchi Babu tournament Group C match against TNCA XI.
“He has given a free hand to everyone. It is important that we note down all these thoughts by players when they come together as a team. We will think about it, go out and be ourselves.”
Despite being at the core of India’s T20I batting line-up over the past three and half years, Suryakumar has found it difficult to break into the Test squad. He only appeared once in this format which was against Australia in Nagpur on Feb 2023
Suryakumar, a very ambitious player, wants to return back to the longer version of cricket. “There are a lot of guys who have come through the system and earned their way into the test squad. I would also like to be there. After my test debut for India, I picked up an injury. The players who get opportunities have done well so far. They are the ones who deserve to be there now,” he said.
Since his state-team debut some time ago, Suryakumar has always viewed as his top priority playing red-ball cricket. “The love for red-ball format remains in me from day one. It is despite the fact that I put on Indian colours first in limited overs but this format has always been my favourite. Red ball cricket has always been the number one concern for me and that is why I am here before Duleep Trophy,” explained Suryakumar Yadav in an interaction with Sportstar Live Online recently.
This style is tough; one must be smarter than the opponent. T20 cricket does not allow hitting sixes like that. Nevertheless, intentions count a lot too. How do you carry yourself on the field? It matters a lot! Should you succeed, then stay modest. If you fail, go back to square one and come again.”
