Surya went on to become T20I captain in just three years after making his India debut.
Surya's journey is one of the most inspiring in the history of Indian cricket. He made his debut at the age of 30 and went on to become India's T20I captain in just three years.
In the latest episode of Deep Point on Star Sports, Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar shared insights into Suryakumar’s stature as India's top T20I batter and his potential as captain.
"This has taken a lot of time; it didn't happen in just two years. He used to play for KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders), and I remember he had just two shots. Predictably, he would play the flick shot on the first ball of the innings, no matter where it landed. The growth of Suryakumar Yadav is incredible. Who would have predicted, when he was playing lower down the order for KKR, that he would go on to become the best T20I batter in the world?" Manjrekar said.
On the other hand, former India batting coach Bangar emphasized how Surya’s extraordinary skill is further elevated by his imagination and adaptability.
"The method to this madness is proactiveness. It takes a lot of imagination, courage, and the ability to anticipate where the ball is coming from before it's even bowled-that's his hallmark," said Bangar.
"During the Asia Cup, we analysed how, when bowlers try to adjust their deliveries after Surya gets into position, he still has another option to punish them. That’s his special ability. There are many players who can hit across 360 degrees, but his ability to abandon his plan and react to a delivery is amazing," he added.
While Bangar expressed his surprise with Hardik Pandya's snub for the captaincy role, he suggested that Surya could be the perfect leader for India's next generation of T20 talent.
"Honestly, I was shocked that he was elevated to captain because, until that point, Hardik Pandya was the captain-designate. The way he handled that transition shows his great man-management skills. It's still early days, but he's the best fit for this young squad after the retirements of Jadeja, Kohli, and Rohit. That's a big plus - he can be the leader of this new generation, someone who is one among them," Bangar remarked.
With Suryakumar Yadav at the helm of affairs, the Men in Blue have recorded 16 wins and just four losses in T20Is.
According to Manjrekar, Surya’s status as the team’s best player makes him the ideal choice to continue leading the side.
"He has a great temperament. Throughout his career, you can see that after a strong innings, he always has a smile during his interviews. He's light-hearted. Just like Bumrah for India's Test captaincy, SKY is by far the best player on this T20I team," he said.
Manjrekar also highlighted the importance of strong coaching support for Surya's captaincy. "In T20Is, if you have a great coach working alongside the captain, because you need outside inputs, I think he could be a great long-term leader. I'm very excited to see if he has any say in team selection because I’m looking forward to watching players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh making a comeback, and even Varun Chakravarthy getting a chance."
(With TOI Inputs)