In cricket, security often serves as the silent catalyst for success. Just look at Rohit Sharma; he toiled for years without an ODI hundred, yet sustained belief—especially from MS Dhoni—unlocked his potential post-2013, turning him into an Indian cricket powerhouse. Not every player gets that long a rope, but the captains who grant it are universally revered.

Today, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is championing this exact philosophy. Alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir, he is actively cultivating a culture of security over fear within the team setup. This empowering approach is paying dividends for players like Sanju Samson and the current world number one T20I batter, Abhishek Sharma.

Samson previously highlighted this shift, revealing how Suryakumar assured him of back-to-back series selections against Bangladesh and South Africa, regardless of his form. Coach Gambhir even doubled down, famously telling Samson he would stick by him even through “20 consecutive ducks.”

ALSO READ: Sana Mir Issues Clarification Over ‘Azad Kashmir’ Remark During Women’s World Cup Commentary

The latest endorsement comes from Abhishek Sharma. After his debut century in his second T20I, Abhishek hit a lean patch, failing to cross the 30-run mark for seven straight innings. Yet, the management’s belief in his potential remained unshaken.

“In my initial few matches, I got out early against Bangladesh. He (Suryakumar) told me, ‘Even if you score 15 ducks, I’ll still stick with you for the 16th match.’ I can give you that guarantee in writing,” Abhishek Sharma shared on Breakfast with Champions. “It’s a very big thing for a captain to say this… I’ll still play you even if you score 15 or 20 ducks.”

This profound faith shown by his captain was the turning point. Abhishek Sharma realised that such backing empowered him to play with the same fearless aggression he displays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.

WATCH – Abhishek Sharma Reveals How Yuvraj Singh’s Guidance Prepared Him To Shine for India

“I understood at the moment that if I want to do something in my cricket career, I’ll have to do something different. Which was striking even faster,” he explained. “Previously, I was stopping myself, thinking about playing a long inning or taking the game deep… I decided to continue with it, even if I get out.”

By prioritizing a player’s innate ability over short-term results, Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir are building a formidable, confident Indian T20I side ready to dominate world cricket.