Follow UsSuryakumar Yadav, the captain of India’s T20I side, has said that the thought of losing his captaincy doesn’t scare him but motivates him to perform better. He made this statement while talking about Shubman Gill, who has recently been handed more leadership roles across the Test and ODI formats.
Suryakumar mentioned in the conversation with The Indian Express that he is quite happy for Gill now that he is leading India in both Tests and ODIs and is also the vice-captain in T20Is. “I am very happy for him that he has become captain in two formats. He has done really well,” India's T20I skipper said.
Talking about their relationship, Suryakumar said that while there is always some fear of losing a position, it’s the kind of fear that pushes him to stay motivated and up his performance, which hasn't been up to the mark, as visible in the Asia Cup.
“I won’t lie, everyone feels that fear (of losing captaincy). But it is the kind of fear that keeps you motivated,” he said.
“The camaraderie between me and him is amazing off the field and on it. I know what kind of player and human he is. So it just motivates me to do well, but I am happy for him.”
Suryakumar also remarked that he’s not someone who worries about the future, as he recalled how he started his international career. He made his T20I debut at the age of 31, and in only his second match, he smashed his very first ball for a six and went on to score 57 off 31 balls. Looking back, he said he wouldn’t have been able to play so freely if he had allowed fear to hold him back.
“If I was someone who got affected by things like these and thought so much about it, I wouldn’t have played my first ball in international cricket the way I did,” the India and Mumbai batter added.
“So I have left that fear behind a long time back. I believe if I am working hard on myself, following things that have to be followed, working very hard and being honest to myself, the rest will be taken care of.”
Suryakumar was made the T20I captain in July 2024 after Rohit Sharma stepped down following India’s T20 World Cup victory. Now that Gill is also the vice-captain in T20Is, it’s clear the selectors are preparing him for bigger responsibilities.