Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav shared several important insights regarding his leadership, squad selection, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and the match against Pakistan. During the first episode of Akasha Chopra's special show 'Baith&Bol', Suryakumar appeared very open and emotional.
During the conversation, Akash Chopra asked Suryakumar a direct question about captaincy, asking: 'You are the captain. Next time the squad is selected, your name will not be...'
Suryakumar responded to this question with a smile, saying that he smiled even when his name was not in the squad. He emphasized: 'I just smiled when my name wasn't there. If they decided it was the best decision to move forward, then they made that decision.'
Thus, Suryakumar expressed no dissatisfaction with the selection committee's decision, clarifying that he would accept any other decision if it was deemed best for the team's interests.
Suryakumar also discussed the team's mentality, recounting when the team felt it was about to do something special. He stated: 'Either it happens, or we have to make it happen.'
In Suryakumar's opinion, when the team loses slightly in a match or faces a small obstacle, it often helps them realize their true strength and purpose. He mentioned the India vs. South Africa match in Ahmedabad, noting that after this game, the team understood it was ready for something outstanding.
During the talk, Akash Chopra raised an interesting point related to Sanju Samson. He asked Suryakumar: 'You told Sanju Samson: 'Play seven matches, live your life, Sanju.' Then Akash presented Captain Suryakumar with a real dilemma: 'Ultimately, the player makes it into the Indian squad, but you cannot get him onto the field.'
Suryakumar admitted that making the decision regarding Sanju was extremely difficult for him. He added that he highly values this player's journey, noting that he starts the tournament mid-way, plays in the final, and becomes a tournament player. Suryakumar noted that his respect for him was already there, but it grew even more after that.
The conversation then moved to the match against Pakistan. Akash Chopra asked if the pressure was higher because of this match. Suryakumar reported that initially, he felt no pressure; everything was fine until the tenth or eleventh over.
However, he felt real pressure around the thirteenth over when Hardik Pandya came out and was removed. Suryakumar said: 'I cannot tell you exactly where I was sweating at that moment.' Hardik's exit caused Suryakumar's heart rate to increase, and that is when he felt the true pressure of the match.
Following this, the discussion turned to Jasprit Bumrah. Akash asked how big an advantage having such a player on the team is from a captain's perspective. Suryakumar called Bumrah's 24 wickets 'golden,' emphasizing that they must be used wisely.
Suryakumar also mentioned a funny anecdote about Bumrah in the team: that he plays not with 24 wickets, but with 16. Suryakumar spoke about Bumrah's leadership qualities, noting that sometimes he felt uncomfortable, but instead of talking much about his problems, he prioritized the team's work. He would come and say: 'I will do your job.' For Suryakumar, this is Bumrah's specialty—he is not just a player fulfilling his role, but a teammate ready to share the burden of the captain when necessary.
A very emotional part of the conversation was related to the same stadium in Ahmedabad where the Indian team failed in 2023. Suryakumar said that this time he had the thought that perhaps he would never get another chance like this. He mentioned that people talked a lot about this stadium, claiming that the Indian team does not win here in major tournaments, and that the place is 'cursed.'
But in Suryakumar's mind, the thought was different this time. He stated: 'I need to do something to change this.' That is, Suryakumar wanted not just to win the match, but to change the negative history associated with the Ahmedabad stadium.