Youngsters have made my job very easy: Suryakumar Yadav

After India’s historic win at the T20 World Cup 2024, the entire team focused on ‘rebuilding for the future’. That’s why they appointed Suryakumar Yadav as the new skipper, and in a short span, he has proven his mettle. 

One distinct and noticeable feature of Suryakumar’s team has been how they have groomed the youngsters, putting them in prime positions at the highest level. And the youngsters have responded to their skipper’s call, which has made the 34-year-old’s job as a captain quite easy. 

"They have made my job very easy if you've seen the last two to three series," Suryakumar talked about the youngsters. "I have told them to keep the needs of the team in front, and whatever calls they take, we are here to back them.

Suryakumar also added that giving the youngsters ‘freedom has made them come out with flying colours. That’s where his personal connection with the players comes to his rescue. 

"You have to understand what's happening around, what's going on in their [the players'] minds and it is very important to give them that comfort. Everyone has a different skill set, and they also want to come out and express themselves. So freedom is very important when they get onto the field, which is what I try to give,” he added. 

"Whatever is running in their mind, I listen to them carefully. Off the field, I try and spend a lot of time with them to understand their strengths, who can deliver for me in a pressure and current situation, and that's how I am on the field.”

"See this format is such that if you keep playing, you keep learning and it's so fast on the field. By the time you blink your eye, the game is over. So that freedom and clarity is very important when you play this format on the field."

India’s immediate task is a four-match T20I series against South Africa, and Suryakumar reckoned that the Men in Blue are accustomed to playing on ‘bouncy pitches’. The 34-year-old insisted that they are aware of the conditions in the Rainbow Nation and will plan accordingly for the series. 

"We do play on good bouncy pitches back home in India also. There are quite a few, so it's nothing new for us," he said. "And we played here last year. We know what the conditions are and what the ground and wicket have for us. We have our game plan, we'll back that and are very excited for the series ahead."

The first T20I of the four-match T20I series begins on November 8.

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