Suryakumar Yadav has described his recent period after relinquishing the India T20I captaincy as “very difficult,” but he’s found new ways to navigate through it. Despite leading India to a triumphant T20 World Cup win at home in March, Suryakumar’s captaincy and team spot were handed over to Shreyas Iyer for India’s subsequent series after the IPL.
“Post the T20 World Cup, it has been a little difficult,” Suryakumar shared at an event in Mumbai organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association. “I don’t want to run away from the fact… if you’re not honest with yourself, it’s very difficult to lead a happy life. To be very honest, it has been very difficult but then at the same time, during IPL I was blessed with a baby girl in May. So the focus shifted completely towards her. So the last few months since she was born have been very beautiful.”
Now 36, Suryakumar hasn’t returned to elite-level cricket since the IPL, where Mumbai Indians had a disappointing season, finishing second from the bottom. Though he participated in the Mumbai T20 League and local club matches in June, he wasn’t selected for Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy, citing inadequate preparation for red-ball cricket.
Suryakumar is set to lead Mumbai in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, commencing on 14th November, with Mumbai’s matches taking place in Kolkata. Reflecting on this opportunity, Yadav expressed his desire to reconnect with the “love and passion” for the game that fuelled his early cricketing ambitions.
“The first two months after the IPL were difficult but then I thought, why not think about how I was before – how I started my cricket, when I used to think I wanted to play age-group cricket for Mumbai, I wanted to play first-class cricket for Mumbai,” he remarked. “So all these things I chatted with my wife, and she said the same thing: you need to bring back that love and passion for the game, what you had when you were a 15-year-old kid who wanted to represent Mumbai in age-group cricket.”
He further explained, “So that’s what I started talking about and the same thing I’m following right now: what I did 10-15 years ago – training again, following the same passion, same love for this game and everything is back to normal. When you start thinking about it, and you’re focused on playing the sport, you want to do well for your team and your family; things change completely. And that’s what I’m doing right now. The main goal is what I used to think before – to win the championship for Mumbai.”
Suryakumar’s journey, characterised by introspection and a rekindled enthusiasm, signifies a new chapter in his cricket career. As he prepares for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, fans are eager to see this renewed spirit translate into success on the field.
