Suryakumar Yadav is not thinking about who is fit or injured; he’s only focused on leading the side to a series win in South Africa.
Suryakumar Yadav will captain India in a second consecutive T20I series when the Men In Blue take on the Proteas in a 3-T20I series from Sunday.
He recently led India to a 4-1 T20I series win at home against Australia, and now will captain the side against South Africa. This opportunity to lead India on an interim basis has come to Suryakumar Yadav because Hardik Pandya is unavailable due to an injury that he sustained during the World Cup.
“From personal point of view, it (captaincy) is a big responsibility. I really enjoyed it in the last series (against Australia). I would love to do the same (winning) in the coming series in South Africa,” Suryakumar Yadav said on the eve of the series.
“From the larger perspective, I feel we’ll see what comes ahead but for now let’s focus on the series.”
There are lots of people to bowl: Suryakumar Yadav
The hole from the injury to Hardik Pandya is not only to the captaincy department but more concerningly to the all-round department of Team India, affecting the balance of the side.
Suryakumar, though, reckons he has other part-time options to fall back on, such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma, and that India won’t miss Hardik in the bowling department.
“We do have a sixth-bowling option,” Suryakumar added. “There are lots of people to bowl. When the time is right, you will see. Not just six, there could be seven or eight too.”
None of the players in this current Indian squad have played a T20I in South Africa. The message from captain Suryakumar to the players is simple – to play your natural game and enjoy the experience.
“The guys whom I am watching right now in the T20s are very expressive, very fearless. I have that attitude. They aren’t afraid of failure. Whatever happens if they do good or if they don’t get runs on that given day, their attitude remains the same.
“I think that balance is really important and I have just told them just enjoy this format, just be yourself,” the 33-year-old interim skipper said.