Suryakumar Yadav In Indian Jersey (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com)
Since the game of cricket was introduced to the Indian subcontinent, the nation has gifted some unreal stars, some as young sensations, and some as late bloomers. Though hailing from cricket-rich Mumbai, SKY took his time to break into the international scene, but once he arrived, he lit it up like few ever have, becoming a dominant force in T20I cricket.
But was it easy to feel those delays, rejection, and still bounce back stronger to carve his name in the Indian cricket? Definitely no, but Surya’s grit made it easy. His coach, Ashok Aswalkar, shared the inspiring journey of how Surya transformed from a Mumbai batter into India’s T20 captain.
Delayed Start Never Diminished Surya’s Talent
The cricketers from Mumbai often grabbed the attention from a young age, but the story was different for Suryakumar Yadav. Despite hailing from India’s unnamed cricket hub, he remained unnoticed for long. Surya’s journey started from BARC, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and coach Ashok Aswalkar stood like a strong pillar and shaped him in his initial stage.
At just 12 years old, Mumbai’s Suryakumar Yadav emerged with a natural talent for power hitting. However, this raw ability needed some polishing. Even though his coach provided guidance, young Surya often preferred style over discipline. This choice may have kept him from gaining recognition early in his career.
“Surya’s power-hitting prowess was evident from our coaching days at the BARC ground in 2002–03. At just 12–13 years old, he effortlessly cleared the 65-yard boundary, even without a high-quality bat. My task was to encourage him to play straight, but once he stepped onto the field, he marched to his beat. He often ignored advice and improvised as he pleased, which is why he doesn’t boast towering scores in local school or age-group cricket,” Aswalkar said as quoted by the Sportstar.
Surya Defied The Dip And Crafted A Stunning Comeback
Suryakumar Yadav joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014 and eventually became the team’s vice-captain. His rise continued when he was named captain of Mumbai’s domestic side. However, amid this success, Surya lost his way, and an undisciplined lifestyle affected him. Yet, remaining true to his spirit, he turned everything around and created a remarkable comeback story.
After a stronger comeback, he joined the Mumbai Indians and solidified himself as a remarkable batter. After that, he received his long-awaited India call-up and there was no looking back.
As the coach has been his strongest support in his tough time, Aswalkar didn’t forget to credit Surya's fierce comeback in the game. Aswalkar said, “Look, there is no doubt he got carried away. But how you rise after a fall defines your character. That’s what Surya is all about.”
A Burning Hope That Kept Surya’s Spark Alive
Every setback comes with a greater comeback behind, but big hopes add much more fuel to those big dreams. For India’s own SKY, his hope didn’t let his unreal cricket talent die as teenager Suryakumar Yadav once made his aim clear saying, "Mujhe mujhe bada cricket khelna hai.” Later on, amid all the setbacks in his career, he kept the burning hope alive in him.
The success came late in his life, but when it came, the batter gifted the country some unreal cricket memories. Depending on his brilliant catch in last year’s T20 World Cup final, Team India ended their long ICC trophy drought.
After Rohit Sharma's exit from the shortest format, Suryakumar Yadav became India’s T20I captain. With the next T20 World Cup approaching, Surya is preparing to lead and continue India’s strong tradition in this format.
