Suryakumar Yadav: "If Test Comeback Has to Happen, It Will Happen"

Suryakumar Yadav, captain of India's T20I team, has not abandoned his ambitions of returning to the Test cricket format. Despite his growing reputation in T20 cricket, he remains committed to domestic cricket to maintain his readiness for any potential Test call-up. Yadav, who earned his only Test cap in early 2023 against Australia, continues to participate actively in both red-ball and white-ball domestic tournaments, as he shared ahead of India's first T20I match against South Africa in Durban. "I'm playing all the domestic tournaments, be it red-ball or white-ball. I don't miss any game," he said. "If a Test comeback has to happen, it will happen."

Suryakumar also expressed support for India's Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma amid recent criticism following a 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand. He emphasized the ups and downs of sports, praising Rohit's character for staying grounded regardless of results. Suryakumar admires Rohit's approach to handling teammates and aims to incorporate similar qualities into his own captaincy. "Whether he's doing well or not, his character does not change," Yadav noted. "That's one quality I believe a sportsman should always have."

Having learned from Rohit, particularly during their time with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, Suryakumar has adopted a calm leadership style focused on player comfort. As captain, he strives to build close bonds with teammates off the field, as he believes it strengthens performance on the field. "When I am not on the ground, I try to spend time with my teammates, have a meal with them, travel together," he explained. “These small things reflect on the ground.”

Despite limited experience as full-time captain, Yadav has already led India to impressive results, including series sweeps against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. His leadership style contrasts with his aggressive batting; he prioritizes providing his players with "freedom and clarity." For Suryakumar, understanding players’ mindsets and encouraging their natural styles are key to successful team dynamics. "Everyone has different skill sets, and they want to express themselves,” he said. “So, that freedom is very important when they get onto the field."

Suryakumar's squad for the South Africa T20I series includes several young and relatively inexperienced players. This youthful team has made his job "very easy," as they are accustomed to the responsibilities of professional cricket through their state and IPL performances. His advice to these newcomers is straightforward: "Just the color of the jersey changes; the kind of cricket they have been playing, they should just play the same way," he shared, adding that he feels refreshed watching them play.

Lastly, addressing concerns about adapting to South Africa’s bouncier pitches, Suryakumar dismissed any apprehensions. He believes India’s domestic pitches offer similar challenges, which helps them prepare for overseas conditions. With his balanced and inclusive leadership approach, Suryakumar is optimistic about India’s performance in the T20I series, highlighting both his personal and professional growth as a captain and team player.