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SPORTS NOVEMBER 15, 2024 | The Indian Eye 40

T20I SERIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Aggression in batting but not in captaincy: SKY

talks about his style ahead of important series

Suryakumar Yadav said he is not overly concerned about his chances of rejoining

the Indian Test squad, noting that if it’s meant to happen, it will

OUR BUREAU the ICC World Test Championship
Final squad.
Durban
The success Suryakumar has en-
ndia skipper Suryakumar Yadav joyed with his captaincy is reflected
claimed that his style of captain- in his numbers. Under his leadership,
Icy is completely different from India have won 11 out of 13 matches
the way he bats as he tries to give his which include a series sweep over Sri
players more “freedom and clarity.” Lanka and Bangladesh.
Suryakumar is well-known for With India set to play four T20Is
bringing out his aggression while against South Africa, Suryakumar in-
heavily relying on his dynamism and tends to give that freedom and clarity
unorthodox strokeplay. His ability to to his players as they strive for suc-
put runs on the board swiftly is one cess.
of the prime traits that makes him a “See this format is such that if
modern-day T20I great. On the other you keep playing, you keep learning
hand, when it comes to his captain- and it’s so fast on the field. By the
cy, Suryakumar appears to be a calm time you blink your eye, the game
and collected figure. Even in the is over. So that freedom and clarity
direst of situations, the 34-year-old is very important when you play this
keeps his calm and disseminates it to format on the field,” he noted.
the entire team. Suryakumar Yadav expressed
It is still his early days in the new faith in abilities of opening batter
role after replacing Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is missing
Suryakumar outlined the thought from the series squad, and said that
process behind his captaincy whenev- his time will come soon.
er he stepped up to lead the side. He The young Indian side aims to
wants to give everyone the necessary extend their T20I dominance as they
comfort, which allows his players to kick off their South African tour,
express themselves. which features four T20Is, with the
“You have to understand what’s first match in Durban on Friday.
happening around, what’s going on Yadav’s remarks come after India’s
in their [the players’] minds, and it 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand
is very important to give them that at home, their first loss at home in a
comfort. Everyone has a different Test series in 12 years and first-ever
skill set, and they also want to come India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav playing a shot (ANI) whitewash in a Test series of three-
out and express themselves. So that match or more.
freedom is very important when they The second T20I will take place
get onto the field, and that is what I is not overly concerned about his Speaking at the pre-match press at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on
try and give,” Suryakumar said in the chances of rejoining the Indian Test conference, Suryakumar remarked, November 10, followed by the third
pre-match press conference ahead of squad, noting that if it’s meant to “When the time comes, I will make at SuperSport Park in Centurion on
opening T20I against South Africa. happen, it will. a Test comeback. I am playing in all November 13. The series will con-
“Whatever is running in their The young Indian side aims to domestic tournaments, be it red-ball clude with the fourth T20I at Wan-
mind, I listen to them carefully. Off continue their T20I dominance as or white-ball. I don’t miss any games. derers Stadium on November 15.
the field, I try and spend a lot of they kick off their South African tour, If a Test comeback is meant to hap- India’s T20I Squad: Suryaku-
time with them to understand their which comprises four T20Is, starting pen, it will.” mar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju
strengths, who can deliver for me in with the opening match in Durban Although a regular in India’s Samson, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma,
a pressure and current situation, and on Friday. His comments follow In- white-ball setup, Suryakumar has Jitesh Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar
that’s how I am on the field,” he added. dia’s 0-3 Test series whitewash at played only one Test match - against Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun
Ahead of the first T20I against home to New Zealand, marking their Australia in 2023, scoring eight runs Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Ar-
South Africa in Durban, Indian T20I first home series loss in 12 years and in his sole innings. In the same year, shdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak,
captain Suryakumar Yadav said he their first-ever whitewash. he was named as a reserve player in Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.

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