Cricket

India's newly appointed T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has expressed his excitement about working with head coach Gautam Gambhir, with whom he shares a special bond dating back to their time together at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Yadav, who has previously led India in seven T20Is, emphasized the importance of leadership and the lessons he has learned from various captains. He believes that being a leader on the field, even without the official title, has helped him grow as a player.Speaking about his relationship with Gambhir, Yadav recalled their time together at KKR, where Gambhir's guidance played a pivotal role in his development. He expressed his belief that Gambhir's understanding of his work ethic and mindset will be invaluable in their new roles with the Indian team.Yadav also highlighted the importance of humility and balance in life, lessons he has learned from his experiences in cricket. He believes that it is crucial to separate on-field performance from personal life and to maintain a sense of perspective.India's tour of Sri Lanka marks the beginning of a new era for both teams, with Gambhir and Sanath Jayasuriya taking over as head coaches for India and Sri Lanka, respectively. The series will feature three T20Is and three ODIs, with the first T20I scheduled for Saturday in Pallekele.India's T20I squad for the series includes a mix of experienced players and rising stars, with Yadav leading the charge as captain. The team will be looking to build on their recent successes and continue their dominance in the shortest format of the game.

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has expressed his support for newly-appointed T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who will lead the team on its upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Shastri believes that Suryakumar's experience and dynamic batting style will make him a successful leader.Suryakumar has captained India in T20I series against Australia and South Africa in the past, and has also led Mumbai domestically. Shastri believes that this experience will be invaluable in his new role."He is street smart... he is one of the best T20 players in the world at the moment," Shastri said. "He is a match-winner on his own, walks into the team day in, day out in that format of the game on his own steam, so I think it is not a bad idea at all."Shastri also stressed the importance of Suryakumar understanding and managing India's diverse bowling options."One thing that he (Suryakumar) will have to learn from his side is what are the strengths of his bowlers and what are their limitations," Shastri said. "I never say a bowler has a weakness, I say a limitation, and then there are strengths. And then focus on the right things and set fields accordingly. I think that is what he will have to learn."Shastri believes that Suryakumar's captaincy style will be similar to his playing style."I think it will [captaincy style] be much like his personality, the way he plays the game," Shastri said. "He will be thinking very quickly and the fact that he knows all these players, even the senior players, I think he will be in a great position to handle the team."

Shubman Gill, the rising star of Indian cricket, is poised to assume the role of vice-captain in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, replacing the injured Jasprit Bumrah. This move signals a significant step in Gill's career trajectory, as he is widely regarded as a potential future captain of the Indian team.Gill's appointment as vice-captain in the Test format follows his successful stint as Rohit Sharma's deputy in white-ball cricket. His consistent performances and leadership qualities have earned him the trust of the team management. The youngster is expected to play a crucial role in guiding the Indian team in the absence of Bumrah, who is recovering from a back injury.The Test series against Bangladesh will commence on September 19 in Chennai, followed by the second encounter on September 27 in Nagpur. Gill will also serve as vice-captain in the subsequent T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka.Meanwhile, newly-appointed T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has vowed to continue the aggressive brand of cricket that characterized Rohit Sharma's tenure. Yadav emphasized that the team will maintain the attacking approach that has been instrumental in India's recent successes.Yadav, who has been a key member of the Indian T20I team, expressed his admiration for Rohit Sharma's leadership style. He stated that he aims to emulate Sharma's qualities as a leader who inspires and guides his team.The upcoming series against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will provide Gill and Yadav with an opportunity to showcase their leadership abilities and contribute to the team's success. As India looks to build a strong foundation for the future, the performances of these young players will be closely watched.

Team India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, and head coach Gautam Gambhir have rekindled their bond from their days at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). During a pre-match press conference ahead of the first T20I against Sri Lanka, Gambhir expressed regret over not fully utilizing Suryakumar's potential during their time together at KKR.Gambhir acknowledged that team combinations at the time prevented Suryakumar from batting at the No. 3 spot, a decision he now regrets. "As a leader, you think about the other 10 players as well," Gambhir explained. "If Surya had batted at No. 3, he would have been a lot more effective."Suryakumar responded with humor, suggesting that his full potential could now be utilized under Gambhir's guidance as head coach. He praised Gambhir's understanding and shared insights into their strong relationship as coach and captain. "Even when I say nothing sometimes, he understands what I want," Suryakumar stated.Suryakumar, at 33, is currently leading the T20I team in Sri Lanka and has reunited with his former KKR captain. Since making his debut for India in 2021, Suryakumar has established himself as one of the top T20I batters in the world. In 68 matches, he has scored 2340 runs at an average of 43.33 and a strike rate of 167.74, with four hundreds and 19 fifties.Gambhir's regret over not fully utilizing Suryakumar's potential highlights the importance of recognizing and nurturing talent. It also underscores the significance of a strong coach-captain relationship in bringing out the best in players. As Suryakumar and Gambhir embark on this new journey together, they aim to unlock Suryakumar's full potential and lead Team India to success.

India's T20I Team Undergoes Major TransformationFollowing their triumph at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Barbados, the Indian cricket team has embarked on a period of transition. The retirements of captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, coupled with the departure of head coach Rahul Dravid, have necessitated significant changes.New Leadership and VisionSuryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the new T20I captain, while Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain. Gautam Gambhir has taken over as head coach. The next T20 World Cup is less than two years away, and India is starting from scratch.Suryakumar's appointment came as a surprise, as Hardik Pandya was expected to take charge. However, Pandya's recurrent injury troubles have led to his demotion. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar explained that Pandya's fitness concerns were a major factor in the decision.Suryakumar's CredentialsSuryakumar has proven his batting prowess, but his leadership skills are relatively untested. He led India in a five-match T20I series against Australia last year and a three-match South Africa T20I leg that followed. India won the Australia series 4-1 and tied the South Africa series 1-1.Suryakumar's ability to adapt to different situations should serve him well as a leader. At 33, he is a fairly experienced campaigner, despite spending much of his career in the domestic circuit.Split Captaincy ModelWith Rohit retained as the ODI and Test captain, the Indian team has reverted to the split-captaincy model. This is not a preferred long-term solution, as history has shown.Gill's Future ProspectsShubman Gill has emerged as a potential all-format captain. He has shown impressive form in recent months, leading a young side to a 4-1 victory in the T20I series against Zimbabwe."Shubman is the guy we feel is a three-format player, and he has shown quality over the last year or so," said Agarkar.Bowling Unit Remains StrongIndia's bowling unit, their greatest strength, remains largely unchanged. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami form a formidable quartet. Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav continues to shine as the strike-bowler.Immediate Focus and Future PlansIndia's immediate focus is the 2025 ODI ICC Champions Trophy, which commences in seven months' time. Rohit and Kohli will continue to lead the team in the 50-over format.Gambhir has suggested that the duo could potentially feature in the 2027 Cricket World Cup, although this seems unlikely given their advanced age.The tour to Sri Lanka, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is, will provide the first glimpse of what lies ahead for the national team.

Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya's Camaraderie Unfazed by Leadership ChangeAhead of the first T20I match against Sri Lanka, Team India's training session in Kandy witnessed a heartwarming display of camaraderie between Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya. Despite Hardik losing out on the T20I captaincy to Surya, there were no signs of animosity between the two players.During a fielding exercise designed by T Dilip, Surya and Hardik engaged in friendly banter and laughter. The camaraderie between them remained unaffected by the change in leadership roles within the team.In a video posted by the BCCI, Suryakumar and Hardik were captured chuckling during the training session. Head coach Gautam Gambhir couldn't help but smile at the lighthearted moment.Suryakumar replaced Rohit Sharma as T20I captain after Rohit announced his retirement from the 20-over format. He pipped Hardik to the post due to concerns over Hardik's frequent injury absences.However, Suryakumar holds Hardik in great esteem and emphasized that his responsibilities within the team will remain unchanged. "Hardik's role has always been the same. He is a very important player for the team. The way he performed in the World Cup, I hope he will continue to do the same," he said.The camaraderie between Suryakumar and Hardik is a testament to the strong team spirit within the Indian squad. Despite the competitive nature of the sport, the players maintain a positive and supportive environment, which is crucial for their success on the field.

Suryakumar Yadav, the newly appointed captain of the Indian T20I team, has vowed to maintain the aggressive style of play that characterized Rohit Sharma's tenure. Under Rohit's leadership, India adopted a revolutionary attacking approach that has become their hallmark.Suryakumar emphasized that the team's "train will go ahead" with the same aggressive mindset, despite the change in captaincy. He aims to emulate Rohit's leadership style and strategies, which he believes have been instrumental in India's recent success."What I have learnt from Rohit is that he was always a leader on the ground and off it," Suryakumar said. "He was not just a captain — there is a lot of difference between the two. He was a leader who stood in the middle of the group and showed people the way."Suryakumar also expressed his desire to provide opportunities for young talents like Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh. He believes that these players have the potential to make a significant impact on the upcoming matches against Sri Lanka.Reflecting on his own journey, Suryakumar acknowledged that he has undergone a significant transformation over the last decade. He attributed this change to his marriage and the lessons he has learned from playing under different captains."I am also a completely changed man now," he said. "In 2016, I got married. So, absolutely, you have to change after that as well. But yeah, things are completely different now."Suryakumar also addressed comments made by the newly appointed head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who expressed regret for not fully utilizing his potential during their time together at the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. However, Suryakumar remained optimistic, stating that there is still ample time for him to showcase his skills and make a significant impact in the team."We can fulfil that potential together now," he said with a smile. "Our bond has always been special. We have talked a lot. We both understand what we want to say just by our body language."

Hardik Pandya Snubbed as Suryakumar Yadav Takes Over as India's T20I CaptainIn a surprising turn of events, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been overlooked for the captaincy role in India's upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. Instead, the selectors have opted for Suryakumar Yadav, who will lead the team for the first time in his career.Pandya's exclusion from the captaincy has raised eyebrows, given his impressive performances and leadership qualities in recent times. He has captained India in the absence of Rohit Sharma and was also named vice-captain for the T20 World Cup, which India won under his leadership.However, India's chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, has clarified that fitness and availability were the primary reasons for choosing Suryakumar over Pandya. Pandya has a history of injury concerns, which may have influenced the selectors' decision.The move has sparked a debate within the cricketing fraternity. Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has criticized the selectors, claiming that fitness is merely an excuse for not appointing Pandya as captain. He believes that other players with fitness issues have still gone on to become successful captains.Meanwhile, Suryakumar has expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead India. He has previously captained the team in T20I series against Australia and South Africa, where he impressed with his tactical acumen and leadership skills.The first T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka will be played on July 27 in Pallekele. India's squad includes a mix of experienced players and exciting young talents, with Suryakumar leading the charge as captain.

Suryakumar Yadav, the newly appointed Indian T20 captain, has expressed his enthusiasm for leading the team on the field, despite not having previously held the captaincy role. He credits his leadership skills to the lessons he has learned from various skippers throughout his career.Yadav was named India's T20 captain last week, succeeding Hardik Pandya after Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format. His first assignment will be the three-match T20 series against hosts Sri Lanka, beginning 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," Yadav told BCCI.TV.Yadav's appointment marks the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket, with Gautam Gambhir taking over as head coach. Yadav and Gambhir share a strong bond from their days together at Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014."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," Yadav said.Yadav emphasized the importance of humility and staying grounded while leading the team. He believes that cricket is just a part of life and that it should not define one's self-worth."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."Yadav's leadership style is likely to be influenced by the experiences he has gained from playing under different captains. He has learned the importance of communication, adaptability, and decision-making.As India embarks on a new chapter in its cricketing history, Yadav's leadership will be crucial in shaping the team's future. His experience, skills, and passion for the game make him an ideal candidate to lead India to success in the T20 format.