India captain says “If we want to win the match, then never mind the combination”
India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav agreed that selecting a squad of 15 can sometimes gets challenging, with multiple options in the race for one slot, but said that the players understand the team’s needs and have their focus on one simple goal: to help India win matches.
“It’s a good headache to have so many options, [whether] fast bowlers, [or] spinners,” Suryakumar said ahead of the first T20I against Australia in Canberra. “From the top to No. 7, everyone is flexible; anyone can bat anywhere. It is a little difficult during squad selection, but in this team, the atmosphere is such that everyone knows that the goal is to win.
India haven’t had recent success in Australia. They lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 in December-January and then went down in the ODI series 2-1 earlier this month. But Suryakumar doesn’t feel the recent losses will have any bearing on the T20I series, particularly considering India’s form, having lost just two of their last 15 T20Is.
“According to me, it’s a different format,” he said. “The team is the same, but the format is almost different: Test, one-day and T20. And [as for] the brand of T20, we will continue playing the brand of cricket that we have been playing. There is no need to change anything and according to me, there are always challenging conditions, when you go to Australia, England, South Africa, [or] New Zealand. There is challenging cricket in all these countries, but at the same time, how you adapt to it and how you think about how to play shots, how to make runs.
“I think it is non-negotiable at this level, you do your preparation and come. I feel it’s a good thing, good challenge to have going forward and we are playing five T20s, so I think it will be more fun.”
India haven’t had recent success in Australia. They lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 in December-January and then went down in the ODI series 2-1 earlier this month. But Suryakumar doesn’t feel the recent losses will have any bearing on the T20I series, particularly considering India’s form, having lost just two of their last 15 T20Is.
“According to me, it’s a different format,” he said. “The team is the same, but the format is almost different: Test, one-day and T20. And [as for] the brand of T20, we will continue playing the brand of cricket that we have been playing. There is no need to change anything and according to me, there are always challenging conditions, when you go to Australia, England, South Africa, [or] New Zealand. There is challenging cricket in all these countries, but at the same time, how you adapt to it and how you think about how to play shots, how to make runs.
“I think it is non-negotiable at this level, you do your preparation and come. I feel it’s a good thing, good challenge to have going forward and we are playing five T20s, so I think it will be more fun.”
Suryakumar’s own form has been under scrutiny. He had a lukewarm Asia Cup 2025, managing just 72 runs in seven innings at an average of 18.00. The 35-year-old, however, isn’t fussed about his form as long as India keep winning.
“I feel I have been working really hard,” he said. “I have had good few sessions back home, good two to three sessions here, so I am in a good space. I think that is really important… runs, it will come eventually but I think working hard towards the team goal, it’s more important what team wants from you in different situations. I take one game at a time and if it starts then I think it will be a good thing.”
The one area where India have struggled in recent times has been their fielding. They were guilty of dropping many chances in the Asia Cup, and while Suryakumar reckons that fielding lapses are a part of the game, he wants the team to give the fielding department special attention.
“See, catches do get dropped,” he said. “As a fielder, when you attempt a catch, sometimes you spill it. A batter gets dismissed, a bowler at times doesn’t get wickets. This is a part of the game. But, according to me, what you do after that is important. It was an optional session today, but everyone came to work on their fielding.
“That means the team is working towards something really special. This is a department which I have told them we have to work really hard if we want to be the best fielding unit in the world. You have seen teams taking good catches, saving runs… they win matches through their fielding.
“Sometimes the batting and bowling go awry, but you can also win matches through fielding. We are working hard. But there is no guarantee that if you take 25 catches today, then you won’t drop one tomorrow. You can drop, it’s part of the game but how much you want the ball to come to you, how much intent and opportunity you create, that is important for me. If someone drops a catch, it’s not a problem. There is disappointment, but at the same time, if you put in the effort, then there’s no problem.”
