India’s new T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and new head coach Gautam Gambhir go a long way back. They will begin their stints for Team India will begin with the T20I series against Sri Lanka starting on July 27.
Suryakumar Yadav as India T20I captain over Hardik Pandya was a contentious choice made by new coach Gautam Gambhir and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar. However, ahead of the T20i series opener in Kandy, Suryakumar spoke on his relationship with Gambhir in detail.
Notably, Suryakumar Yadav played for Kolkata Knight Riders under Gambhir’s captaincy starting 2012 till 2017, when Gambhir parted ways with the franchise.
"Yeh jo relationship hai, bahut special hai. Kyunki main jab 2014 me gaya tha, I played under him for KKR. It was special because wahan se opportunity mila khelne ka, franchise ke liye aur... Jo bolte hena, tum teen kadam chale, aap bhi do kadam aaye, aur bich me kahi toh mile. Toh waisa relationship tha. Aur abhi bhi woh relationship waise ka waise hi hai, strong," Suryakumar said in a video released by the BCCI.
Suryakumar, noted for his aggressive batting style and inventive strokes, stressed the mutual understanding and support that characterizes his partnership with Gambhir. Surya reflected on their experiences with the Kolkata Knight Riders and saw how this dynamic might assist the Indian squad in their new roles.
"But he knows ki main kaise kaam karta hoon. What my mindset is when I come to practice sessions. How he tries to work as a coach. And it's all about that lovely relationship we have and very excited to see how it goes forward," Suryakumar added.
Gambhir's tenure as head coach and Suryakumar's captaincy promises a fresh approach, aiming to build on India's recent successes and take the team to new heights.
"The most important thing I have learnt from the sport is how humble you are after achieving (success) or even after you aren't doing well. When you do something on the ground, you have to leave it on the ground. This is not your life, it's just a part of your life. So, you can't be like - you are doing well then you stay on the top and when you are not doing well, you are underground. That's one thing that I feel you shouldn't do as a sportsman, not only as a cricketer. That's what helps me create balance in my life. If you are a good person, everything happens good," Suryakumar concluded.
