Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav during a practice session at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, in Pallekele, Thursday, July 25, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Newly-appointed Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav says he has enjoyed being a leader on field despite not dawning the captain’s hat, adding that he leant the tricks of the trade from different skippers over the years.

Suryakumar was appointed as India’s T20 captain last week ahead of Hardik Pandya after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format.

Suryakumar’s first assignment will be the three-match T20 series against hosts Sri Lanka starting here on Saturday.

“I have always enjoyed being a leader on the field even though I was not the captain. I have always learnt a lot of things from different captains. It’s a good feeling and a great responsibility,” the swashbuckling middle-order batter told BCCI.TV.

Indian cricket is set to embark on a new era under Suryakumar and new head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Both Suryakumar and Gambhir share a strong bond since Kolkata Knight Riders days as they played together in 2014 for the franchise.

And Suryakumar, known for his aggressive batting and innovative shots, described his relationship with Gambhir as both special and strong.

“This relationship is special because in 2014 I played under him in KKR. It was special because from there only I got opportunities. The relationship is still strong.

“He (Gambhir) knows how I work, what is my mindset when I come to practice sessions. I also know how he tries to work as a coach. It’s all about the lovely relationship we have and very excited to see how it goes forward,” the Mumbai batter said.

By his own admission, Suryakumar wants to remain humble and grounded while leading the side on the field as he looks at cricket just as a sport, not life.

“I think most important thing what I have learned from this sport is how humble you are after achieving or even after not doing well. I have learned when you do something on the ground you have to leave it on the ground,” he said.

“This is not your life, this is just a part of your life. So you can’t be when you are doing well you stay on the top and when you are not doing well, you are underground.

“That’s one thing which you shouldn’t do ever as a sportsman, that’s one thing which I have learned and that’s what helps me create balance in my life. If you are good person, everything happens good.”

India’s Suryakumar Yadav poses with the ICC T20 World Cup trophy during the victory parade in Mumbai. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Star batter Suryakumar Yadav stayed put on second position in the latest ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings, which also features Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made significant progress following his exploits in the ongoing away series against Zimbabwe.

Suryakumar is placed second with 821 rating points behind Australia’s Travis Head, who has 844 rating points.

Phil Salt of England is paced third with 797 points, ahead of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (755), Mohammad Rizwan (746) and Jos Buttler (716).

Gaikwad has gained 13 places to climb to the seventh spot in the rankings on the back of a stellar 77 not out off 47 balls in a comprehensive 100-run win for India in the second T20I against Zimbabwe.

With most of India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024-winning squad rested for the Zimbabwe tour, the five-game series has allowed India’s back-up players to showcase their talent, and with the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, the upcoming players can make a good case for a regular place in the side.

Apart from Gaikwad, Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma also made solid gains among the India batters.

Rinku, who was among the reserves for the T20 World Cup, jumped four places to reach the 39th spot on the back of an attacking 48 not out from 22 balls in the second T20I.

And after a duck in the first game, all-rounder Abhishek smashed a stunning 100 from just 47 balls in the second game. With this spectacular knock, he entered the rankings for the first time at 75th spot.

Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett gained 25 places to finish at the 96th position courtesy of his two attacking cameos, making 22 off 15 and 26 off nine in the two matches.

In the bowlers’ T20I chart, left-arm spinner Axar Patel dropped two places to be the lone Indian in top-10 at the ninth position with 644 rating points.

Fellow left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav also dropped three places to the 11th spot, while T20 World Cup’s player-of-the-tournament Jasprit Bumrah also slid two rungs to 14th position.

Besides, there were some movements in the top 10 positions of the bowling rankings, with Adam Zampa (7th), Fazalhaq Farooqi (8th), and Maheesh Theekshana (10th) gaining positions.

India’s Ravi Bishnoi, with his six scalps in the first two games against Zimbabwe, jumped eight places to move to the 14th spot.

Blessing Muzarabani also gained eight positions after the first two matches, up to 55th, with his spell of 1/17 instrumental in Zimbabwe winning the first T20I.

India vice-captain Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, dropped a place to the second position in the T20I all-rounders’ rankings.

Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka moved to pole position.

India’s Washington Sundar entered the top 50 on the back of his quickfire 27 in the first game, as well as his three wickets in two outings.

Axar is placed 12th in the all-rounders’ rankings.

Suryakumar Yadav during a practice session ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, on October 17, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Ahead of the 17th match of the ODI World Cup 2023 between India and Bangladesh at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday, Indian bowling coach Paras Mhambrey showered praise on Suryakumar Yadav and said that he is a match winner and champion.

While speaking at the pre-match press conference, Mhambrey said that the 33-year-old Indian batsman is difficult to bowl since he is a 360 player.

“Surya is a champion; he is a match-winner and he’s shown you. The last innings that he played, the way he toils – he is a 360 player that we have been talking about. He is a difficult batsman to bowl, especially – anywhere,” Mhambrey said.

When Mhambrey was asked whether Suryakumar was ready to get his maiden World Cup game, the Indian bowling coach said that it’s difficult to miss someone like him in the team.

“I think if you look at the fine leg area, you need to get it covered, third man area gets covered, you bring covers up, you start playing out there. So, he is a 360 player, a difficult batsman to bowl to. And yes, it’s a difficult decision, I said. It’s like Ashwin or Shami, Surya is a quality player. It’s difficult to miss someone like him in the team or get him. But you need to create an opportunity, a place for him to play,” the Indian bowling coach added.

Mhambrey further added that if the opportunity arises, Suryakumar Yadav will get his game.

“The question then asked is, who do you replace him with? So that’s always a challenge. People always say he should be playing. I think he should be playing. But the question sometimes is, in whose place? I think that’s a challenge. So, you don’t have a slot for him right now. But we all know what he brings to the table. He is a match-winner for you and I am sure he will get an opportunity. If the opportunity arises, he will get his game,” he added.

Ahead of India’s clash against Bangladesh, Mhambrey praised Shakib Al Hasan and said that he has done well for Bangladesh and added that he’s a quality bowler.

“See, when you play as a batsman, sometime or somewhere or the other, you will be against someone. If you look at match-ups, there’ll be some match-ups saying that he’s weak against this, but he’s good against that player, bowler especially. But honestly, I don’t think any conversation that we have out here, we know he is a good player. He has done well for Bangladesh, he is a champion player, he is handy, he bats for the team, he bowls well, he bowls in the power play, he’s a quality bowler and I think you got to give that to him,” he added.

When asked, whether Shakib Al Hasan will create problems for the Indian batsmen, he replied that Men in Blue’s main focus is to execute the team’s plan during the match.

“But for us really it doesn’t really matter. I think for us is that day what we do in terms of our preparation, our execution and we have a game plan. So, I honestly believe and that’s what when I voice the – it’s from the team’s point of view as well. I think if you execute your plans to the max, you’re going to do well. And I think that’s all that we’re focusing on. The execution of our plans and that’s it, nothing else,” he added.

Rohit Sharma-led India is coming into this game after defeating Pakistan by seven wickets after the Indian skipper’s scintillating 86-run knock from 63 balls.

The Men in Blue are still unbeaten in the ongoing extravaganza tournament and will be looking forward to continuing their unbeaten streak in the forthcoming game against Bangladesh.

The match between India and Bangladesh will kick off at 2:00 PM IST on Thursday.