India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav turned up for the pre-match press conference ahead of the first T20I against England which will be played on January 22. Suryakumar Yadav was in jovial spirits and his witty one-liners were a highlight of the press conference.
Suryakumar will be returning to international cricket after the home series against Bangladesh in October 2024. India and England are set to face off in five T20Is and three ODIs before the Champions Trophy 2025
Ahead of the opening T20I at Eden Gardens, the Indian skipper talked about his relationship with Hardik Pandya. Suryakumar was appointed T20I captain following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format after India's triumph in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, succeeding Hardik Pandya as the leader of the team.
We have been good friends: Suryakumar Yadav on Hardik Pandya
Suryakumar talked about the strong camaraderie and mutual understanding that exists between him and Hardik Pandya. The Indian captain acknowledged Hardik's crucial role within the team's leadership group, underscoring that their bond has solidified over years of friendship.
“The relationship with Hardik is really great. It's just the added responsibility that I have got. Hardik is part of the leading group. We have been good friends,” Suryakumar said at the pre-match press conference on January 21.
The 34-year-old also expressed his disappointment with his underwhelming performance in ODIs. He admitted that his exclusion from India's squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 was a direct consequence of his struggles in the format. He openly admitted the need to improve his ODI game to regain his place in the team.
“It hurts that I haven't done well in ODIs. That's why I'm not in the Champions Trophy squad. If I had done well, I would have been there,” he added.
Meanwhile, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir is currently under immense pressure to deliver positive results following the team's recent losses against Australia and New Zealand. However, Suryakumar expressed his confidence in the team's direction under Gambhir's leadership.
Yadav shared his personal experience of playing under Gambhir's leadership during his tenure with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He said that he had the privilege of playing under Gambhir's guidance for four years. He stated that Gambhir's leadership style prioritizes simplicity and encourages players to express themselves freely.
“I have played under Gauti bhai for four years. We are moving in the right direction. Gauti bhai keeps things simple. Gives us a lot of freedom,” he concluded.
Talking about India's track record against England in T20Is, they have clocked 13 wins out of the 24 matches played between the two teams. Moreover, India have secured victories in the last four T20I series against England, making them the favorites to triumph in the upcoming home series.
England's playing XI for 1st T20I against India
Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (WK), Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
India's T20I squad for England series:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya , Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel (wk)