GWALIOR: At a time when the franchisees are busy finalising their retentions, potential captains, coaching staff and even the auction strategy, India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav dropped enough hints that he is interested in becoming the captain of his high-profile franchise, the Mumbai Indians too.
There has been much speculation about whether MI would retain allrounder Hardik Pandya, who led them in IPL-2024, as their captain in IPL-2025 too. A few months back, the national selectors, in a much talked about decision, had replaced Pandya with ‘SKY’ as India’s T20 captain.
On Saturday, on the eve of the first T20I between India and Bangladesh at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium here, Suryakumar refused to duck a question on whether he would want to be the MI captain going forward, even though he didn’t say anything definitive. “Aapne googly daal diya (laughs),” he giggled while gesturing the grip of a leggie while bowling the googly.
He then said, “(I’m) Really enjoying this new role (as India’s T20 captain). When I was playing under Rohit bhai’s captaincy in MI, I used to give my inputs whatever I felt at that time. For India (captaining) also, (I’m) feeling good. I captained against Sri Lanka previously, and against Australia and South Africa also. I have learnt from other captains on how to take the team forward.” Turning into his typical witty mode again in the IPL leadership query, Surya said, “Aage dekhte hain. Chalte rehta hain (laughs). Baaki aapko pata toh chal hee jayega (laughs), (Let’s see what happens in the future. This keeps going on. You’ll come to know soon)”.
The BCCI has asked the franchises to name their retentions by October 31, so a decision regarding MI captaincy can perhaps be expected sometime this month.
Mayank is special, has ‘X’ factor
When Surya, amongst the top three-four most destructive batsmen in the world in T20 cricket, terms a bowler as ‘special,’ and an ‘X factor,’ you better believe that man has indeed got to be good.
Using words that tell you how thrilled the Indian team is at the prospective debut of Delhi and Lucknow Super Giants tearaway fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who has been fast-tracked into India’s T20I team after he impressed with relentless pace and accuracy in IPL-2024, India’s T20 captain showered praise on the young fast bowler.
“It’s (this series) a great opportunity for youngsters. Whenever they have played for their states, they have done well. There’s nothing different to do here (for India). Mayank is a X-factor player, he has the extra pace. I haven’t faced him in the nets thus far, but he is special. We have seen his potential and the impact (that) he can make,” Surya said.
Asserting that the injury-prone pacer, who has been out of action since April due to a side strain, was fully fit now, Surya said, “You have to manage players well, BCCI has started to work on managing players. We have to nurture players like him, he is a special talent. Mayank is fully fit and fine right now.”
Quizzed on whether Yadav will make his debut on Sunday, Surya said, “We were discussing the team just now. If you asked me 10 minutes later, I would have told you whether he would play or not. But surely, he has that extra pace. He is a good addition to the Indian team (We) Need to manage him properly. There is a lot of cricket going on, both international and domestic.”
The Indian captain confirmed that ‘keeper Sanju Samson will open with Abhishek Sharma in the series. He also didn’t rule out the possibility of bowling a couple of overs in this series, like he did in the final T20I against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, where he took 2-5 in one over of part-time spin. “It can only be good If we can get a couple of overs from the batters. In this squad most of them can bowl, like Riyan Parag bowled his full quota of four overs in the Sri Lanka series. If you have the skill (to bowl), why not,” said Surya.
There has been much speculation about whether MI would retain allrounder Hardik Pandya, who led them in IPL-2024, as their captain in IPL-2025 too. A few months back, the national selectors, in a much talked about decision, had replaced Pandya with ‘SKY’ as India’s T20 captain.
On Saturday, on the eve of the first T20I between India and Bangladesh at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium here, Suryakumar refused to duck a question on whether he would want to be the MI captain going forward, even though he didn’t say anything definitive. “Aapne googly daal diya (laughs),” he giggled while gesturing the grip of a leggie while bowling the googly.
He then said, “(I’m) Really enjoying this new role (as India’s T20 captain). When I was playing under Rohit bhai’s captaincy in MI, I used to give my inputs whatever I felt at that time. For India (captaining) also, (I’m) feeling good. I captained against Sri Lanka previously, and against Australia and South Africa also. I have learnt from other captains on how to take the team forward.” Turning into his typical witty mode again in the IPL leadership query, Surya said, “Aage dekhte hain. Chalte rehta hain (laughs). Baaki aapko pata toh chal hee jayega (laughs), (Let’s see what happens in the future. This keeps going on. You’ll come to know soon)”.
The BCCI has asked the franchises to name their retentions by October 31, so a decision regarding MI captaincy can perhaps be expected sometime this month.
Mayank is special, has ‘X’ factor
When Surya, amongst the top three-four most destructive batsmen in the world in T20 cricket, terms a bowler as ‘special,’ and an ‘X factor,’ you better believe that man has indeed got to be good.
Using words that tell you how thrilled the Indian team is at the prospective debut of Delhi and Lucknow Super Giants tearaway fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who has been fast-tracked into India’s T20I team after he impressed with relentless pace and accuracy in IPL-2024, India’s T20 captain showered praise on the young fast bowler.
“It’s (this series) a great opportunity for youngsters. Whenever they have played for their states, they have done well. There’s nothing different to do here (for India). Mayank is a X-factor player, he has the extra pace. I haven’t faced him in the nets thus far, but he is special. We have seen his potential and the impact (that) he can make,” Surya said.
Asserting that the injury-prone pacer, who has been out of action since April due to a side strain, was fully fit now, Surya said, “You have to manage players well, BCCI has started to work on managing players. We have to nurture players like him, he is a special talent. Mayank is fully fit and fine right now.”
Quizzed on whether Yadav will make his debut on Sunday, Surya said, “We were discussing the team just now. If you asked me 10 minutes later, I would have told you whether he would play or not. But surely, he has that extra pace. He is a good addition to the Indian team (We) Need to manage him properly. There is a lot of cricket going on, both international and domestic.”
The Indian captain confirmed that ‘keeper Sanju Samson will open with Abhishek Sharma in the series. He also didn’t rule out the possibility of bowling a couple of overs in this series, like he did in the final T20I against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, where he took 2-5 in one over of part-time spin. “It can only be good If we can get a couple of overs from the batters. In this squad most of them can bowl, like Riyan Parag bowled his full quota of four overs in the Sri Lanka series. If you have the skill (to bowl), why not,” said Surya.
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