India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav disclosed during an event in Hyderabad that his biggest regret in cricket was not getting the opportunity to play under MS Dhoni’s captaincy for the Indian team. The 35-year-old, who made his international debut in 2021 under Virat Kohli’s leadership, shared his experiences of playing under different Indian captains while reflecting on his journey from domestic cricket to leading the national T20 side.
Suryakumar, who recently led India to victory in the Asia Cup in Dubai, expressed his disappointment about missing the chance to play under Dhoni’s leadership, though he has faced him multiple times in the Indian Premier League
“I always wanted to get an opportunity when he was the captain of India. But I never got it. I saw him behind the stumps whenever I played against him. He has been very cool. One thing that I have learned from him when I played against him is to stay relaxed in all pressure situations, he looks around the game, sees around what is happening and then takes a call,” Suryakumar said.
The journey to international cricket was a long one for Suryakumar, who began his domestic career with Mumbai in 2010 but had to wait more than a decade before making his international debut
His entry into international cricket came under Virat Kohli’s captaincy against England in Ahmedabad in 2021, where he didn’t get to bat in his debut game.
Speaking about Kohli’s leadership style, Suryakumar shared: “I think I made my debut under Virat bhai as captain. I think Virat Bhai is a very hard task master. He pushes your limits, and he wants the best. I mean, all the captains want the best from all the players, but he was full of energy on the field and off the field as well. He was a bit different.”
Suryakumar’s cricket career has also been significantly shaped by his experience under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, both in the Mumbai Indians and the Indian team. He was part of the team that won the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa in Barbados, where he took the match-winning catch.
Describing Rohit’s captaincy approach, Suryakumar stated: “Then Rohit bhai, under whom I played a lot of cricket for the IPL franchise and India. He is someone who gets everyone comfortable around them, an inspiration to all youngsters. His door was open 24/7 for everyone. That’s a different quality which I learnt from him and also from the other captains.”
Suryakumar’s performances and consistency eventually led to him being appointed as India’s T20I captain, taking over from Rohit Sharma. His journey from a domestic cricket player to leading the national side in T20Is showcases the progression of his career in Indian cricket.
Under his leadership, India recently achieved success by winning the Asia Cup in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in his captaincy career. His rise in international cricket has been marked by his unorthodox batting style and distinctive strokeplay, which have become his trademark since his debut.
