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Backed by the team management, an Indian team in transition is winning matches by playing a brand of T20 cricket that is exhilarating to watch…
Things are looking up for Suryakumar Yadav and Co. heading into the next T20 World Cup, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in just over a year’s time. The team has finished the year by winning 24 of 26 T20Is played in 2024, a very impressive run.
Even after the exit of senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the format, and despite the absence of match-winners like Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, this T20 team is playing like champions.
Suryakumar Yadav continues to make an impact as a leader | #BeyondTheBoundary
The most refreshing aspect of the team’s journey post the T20 World title is the freedom with which they have expressed themselves, especially with the bat.
“Everyone has a different skill set, and they also want to come out and express themselves. So freedom is very important when they get onto the field, which is what I try to give,” Suryakumar had said at the start of the series, and his team has lived up to the philosophy.
The freedom the team management has given to the players has meant that the Indian team has posted 200-above totals on six out of the eight occasions they batted first post the T20 World Cup.
Two men who have immensely benefitted from the role clarity given to them are Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma. Asked to open the innings, Samson now holds the record for scoring the most T20 international tons (3) in a calendar year.
Two of those hundreds resulted in India raking up their highest team totals in international cricket, 297/6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in October and 283/1 against South Africa in Johannesburg on Friday.
In between, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman scored consecutive ducks in both Sri Lanka and South Africa. The team management has backed him and he has repaid them with interest.
“In T20Is, I never thought of consistency. If there is a ball to be hit, it’s necessary for me to capitalise on that. In the team, even our captain Surya, Gautam bhai, and Laxman sir emphasise maximising runs in the first innings. Even if I’m in the 90s, I aim to keep the momentum going,” Samson said.
Varma’s attitude was even more refreshing. After making a comeback from injury, he scored 33 and 20 batting at No. 4. That’s when the skipper offered the southpaw a chance to bat at No.3, and the Hyderabadi exploded with back-to-back hundreds.
“The team backed us even when we flopped. They told us to play the brand of cricket the team is known for,” Varma said.
The big question now is how to fit in the likes of Samson and Varma when Jaiswal, Gill and Pant return. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. When they come back, we’ll discuss it calmly. It will be tough, but it’s a good headache,” Suryakumar said.
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