Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead India for the first time in a multi-nation tournament as he captains the side at the Asia Cup 2025. With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, this tournament will be a crucial test of his leadership, offering a chance to showcase his ability to manage pressure, rotate squads effectively, and guide India through a competitive, multi-team environment.
When asked if leading India in a high-stakes tournament brings added challenges compared to bilateral series, Suryakumar Yadav responded with his trademark humour: “Till now everything is going alright, sir, toh kyu bina matlab ka ungli karna hai? (Why unnecessarily meddle?) We’ll continue doing what’s been working in our bilaterals. If things are working, we’re moving in the right direction,” he said during the captains’ press conference.
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The 34-year-old has enjoyed a stellar start as India’s permanent T20I captain, guiding the team to 13 wins in 15 matches. His tenure began with back-to-back series victories against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, followed by a 3-1 triumph over South Africa.
“Kyun bina matlab ka ungli karna hai?” – Suryakumar Yadav’s hilarious response to reporter ahead of Asia Cup 2025 https://t.co/uqBVY8Gqkd pic.twitter.com/vHU0H0rhaI
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) September 9, 2025
Amused by claims that India are “runaway favourites,” Suryakumar Yadav added: “Who told you this? I didn’t hear this. Yes, it’s been a while since we played T20 cricket, but we were here early.”
India’s Asia Cup campaign begins with a group-stage clash against the UAE, their first white-ball game since the ICC Champions Trophy final in March.
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This fixture will allow the team management to experiment with combinations ahead of the much-anticipated September 14 clash against Pakistan, one of the tournament’s marquee encounters. With India’s strong form and Suryakumar’s calm leadership, the Asia Cup promises an early glimpse into the team’s preparations for next year’s World Cup.
