The relationship between India’s T20I captain for the tour to Sri Lanka, Suryakumar Yadav, and the head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir, goes back a decade to the year 2014. That is when Surya was inducted into the Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL team captained by Gambhir. This camaraderie they share has spawned a special bonding between the two, which goes on to reflect in their current professional equation.
Recently, Gambhir spoke about his time as captain and the role of being a leader, and it presented him with one major regret from his seven years as captain of KKR. Gambhir has regretfully pointed out how neither he nor KKR could bring out the best in Suryakumar Yadav during his seven-year stint. Gambhir explicitly asserted that these shortfalls were first and foremost because of team combinations and strategic constraints that limited the opportunities presented to Surya.
“A leader’s role is to identify the best potential and show it to the world. If there is one regret that I have in my seven years of captaincy, it is that me and we as a team never managed to use Suryakumar Yadav to the best of his potential. The reason was down to combinations,” Gautam Gambhir said in an interaction with Sportskeeda.
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During a pre-match press conference on the eve of the first T20I game against Sri Lanka, a correspondent brought up Gambhir’s earlier remarks about Suryakumar Yadav. Responding with characteristic wit, Surya assured there was no cause for concern as the potential would now be fully harnessed. He said it was never too late to harness his abilities to the fullest.
“Toh abhi karlenge poore potential ko use,” Suryakumar Yadav said with a smile, as quoted by NDTV Sports.
When asked about how much had changed since Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20Is recently, he made very clear what the way ahead would be. He used an incisive analogy to drive home the point of change in leadership, likening it to bringing in a different engine while the train bogies remained the same—the constant mindset and game plans.
Suryakumar Yadav stressed that, on the other hand, the essence of their cricketing philosophy was still intact and was only enhanced by the new responsibilities he now shoulders. He said with this elevated role, he would be able to really live up to the promises and expectations that generally come associated with his captaincy.
“The same train will go ahead, only the engine has changed and the bogies remain unchanged. Nothing changes; the brand of cricket remains the same. It doesn’t change anything. It has given me an added responsibility. It is good that now I can ‘walk the talk’,” Suryakumar Yadavadded.
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Under Rohit Sharma, the Indian team adopted a very radical and aggressive approach, like a strategy evolved from the spadework that was laid in last year’s 50-over World Cup on home soil. His leadership saw the team through great successes, including a victorious campaign at the T20 World Cup that took place in the Americas. He is looking towards carrying this legacy forward, as Suryakumar steps into the new role to foster that same brand of aggressive cricket which has brought success for India over the past few years.
The upcoming series against Sri Lanka marks an inauguration of a new era of Indian cricket under Gambhir’s coaching and Surya’s captaincy, but it’s also unlocking the talent that lies within people like Suryakumar Yadav to its fullest. This leadership pair has a strong platform and vivid direction to take Indian cricket to newer heights, ensuring that the ‘ifs and buts’ of the past turn into triumphs in times to come.
