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‘Rohit Sharma Not Like A Captain, Bond With Gambhir Special’: Suryakumar Ahead Of Captaincy Journey

Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead India in the T20I series vs Sri Lanka (x.com)Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead India in the T20I series vs Sri Lanka (x.com)

Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead Team India as full-time skipper for the first time through the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. The senior cricketer was appointed as T20I captain at the behest of newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, mere weeks after a Rohit Sharma-led Indian group lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies.

As Team India gears up to embark on a fresh T20I journey under a new management, captain Suryakumar opened up and revealed his dynamics with Gambhir, and also hailed Rohit Sharma for his leadership attributes.


Suryakumar praises Rohit Sharma ahead of SL T20Is

A day before India’s T20I series-opener against Sri Lanka, newly-appointed ‘Men in Blue’ captain Suryakumar Yadav hailed his predecessor Rohit Sharma for shaping up a formidable Indian team.

During a pre-series press conference, the 33-year-old described Rohit as a ‘true leader’ of the team who always paved the way for his teammates. He said:

“I always think that what I have learned from Rohit Sharma, he was always like a leader on the ground and off the field. He was not like a captain. There is a lot of difference in both. There was a leader who was standing in the middle of the group, and he showed people the way, how to play this T20 cricket and how to win the tournament.”

Suryakumar Yadav also spoke about his equation with new head coach Gautam Gambhir. Interestingly, Suryakumar and Gambhir shared the same dressing room for the Kolkata Knight Riders until both parted ways in 2018 to join other franchises.

The Indian T20I skipper said that he always shared a special bond with Gambhir, and he is looking forward to an exciting journey that lies ahead for him. He said:

“The learning has been going on since six years when I was not with him (Gautam Gambhir). This bond is always special. We have talked a lot, but not so much. But he knows my body language. When I see his body language, I know what he wants to say to me. And what I want to say to him. When I say no, he understands what he wants and what I want. So, this bond is very special between coach and captain. I am very excited for this journey ahead of me.”

India’s first T20I against Sri Lanka will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on July 27. The match marks Suryakumar Yadav’s first as India’s full-time captain.