Looking back at the early chapters of his IPL journey, Mumbai Indians star Suryakumar Yadav recently opened up about the nerves and emotions that surrounded his debut for the franchise back in 2012. Speaking on The Suryakumar Yadav Experience on JioHotstar, the stylish right-hander admitted that he “barely slept” the night before his first game, such was the magnitude of the occasion in his young career.
Surya’s rise had started just before that IPL call-up, during the 2011–12 Ranji Trophy season, where he emerged as Mumbai’s top run-getter with 754 runs in nine matches. That form saw him drafted into the star-studded MI lineup the following year. However, his debut against Pune Warriors at Wankhede wasn’t a dream start — he was dismissed for a duck and didn’t feature again that season.
“I remember going to bed around 4 or 5 in the morning before my debut. The buzz of playing for Mumbai Indians was surreal. Even just stepping onto the field for warm-ups made me sweat with excitement,” Suryakumar Yadav recalled.
In 2013, he moved to Kolkata Knight Riders, where he reinvented himself as a middle-order finisher. He played a key role in their IPL 2014 title win before eventually returning to MI in 2018 — a move that transformed his career.
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That 2018 season proved pivotal. Thrust into the opener’s role, he responded with 512 runs, a massive leap from his previous IPL performances. “I didn’t expect to open, but when the team asked, I said yes. I knew Wankhede well. I just kept things simple, stuck to practice and match situations, and somehow everything clicked,” he said.
In 2019, Suryayakumar Yadav was part of another memorable title run, and he vividly remembers the iconic final against CSK, especially Malinga’s last-over heroics. “I was just watching from a distance when Malinga told Rohit, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll do it.’ And he did. That calmness under pressure left a mark on me,” he said.
“Barely Slept Night Before My Mumbai Indians Debut”: Suryakumar Yadav #IPL2025 https://t.co/mgThA4PLJO
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) May 1, 2025
But not all moments were joyous. One of the most emotional setbacks came in 2020 when he was snubbed for India’s tour of Australia despite a strong season. “It was hard. Everyone, even overseas players, expected me to be picked. I went silent for a few days. No practice. Mahela and Zaheer noticed something was off,” Suryakumar Yadav shared.
From 2021 onwards, the modern T20 game forced him to adapt. “The game moved ahead, so I did too. I worked on new shots, picked safer zones, and kept my strike rate around 170. That century against Sunrisers Hyderabad this year was the result of those hours in the nets,” he explained.
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Fast forward to 2025, Suryakumar is not only a cornerstone of the Mumbai Indians’ batting unit but also the captain of India’s T20 team following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. He was part of the victorious 2024 T20 World Cup squad and has since grown into one of the most innovative batters in the game.
With over 4,000 IPL runs in 160 matches, two centuries, and 27 fifties, Surya’s journey is a glowing testament to perseverance and evolution. As Mumbai Indians prepare for a crucial clash against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Thursday, the SKY continues to shine ever brighter.
