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Suryakumar Yadav Reflects on Special Bond with Gautam Gambhir Following BCCI’s Captaincy U-Turn on Hardik Pandya

Gautam Gambhir brought Suryakumar Yadav from Mumbai Indians to Kolkata Knight Riders before of the 2014 Indian Premier League, however he had only played one IPL match. With the support of Gambhir, Surya went a long way, from warming the benches at MI for two years to playing all 16 games for the ultimate champions, KKR. His fireworks used to amaze everyone, making him a thrilling finisher back then. Surya’s performance impressed Gambhir so much that he even offered him a better batting position in one of the post-match interviews.

Under Gambhir’s leadership, Surya played for KKR for four seasons, but it wasn’t until MI brought him back and provided him the No. 3 place that he realized his true ability. One of Gambhir’s greatest regrets, he would later say, was not being able to cling onto Surya and elevate him up the scoreboard. When the two meet again in 2024, their professional lives could not be more dissimilar. With Surya currently leading the T20I team, Gambhir has recently taken on the role of head coach for India. After India won the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement, and Gambhir undoubtedly played a significant part in helping Suyra become the next captain of the Twenty20 Indian team.

“Even though I wasn’t the captain, I have always loved taking the lead on the field. I’ve always picked quite a lot of knowledge from other captains. Before Saturday’s first Twenty20 International match against Sri Lanka Pallekele, Suryakumar spoke with BCCI.TV, saying, “It’s a great feeling and a great responsibility.” The aggressive batsman and creative shot maker Suryakumar called his bond with Gambhir “very special and very strong.” “I played for KKR under him in 2014, which makes our friendship unique. Because I was the only one who had offers from there, it was unique. The bond between them is still quite strong. “Gambhir is aware of my work habits and how I approach practice sessions. I also understand his attempts at being a coach. “It’s all about our wonderful relationship, and I’m eager to see where it takes us,” the Mumbai batter remarked.

Surya wants to remain humble

Suryakumar acknowledges that he views cricket as a sport and not as a way of life, and that he therefore wants to lead the team on the field while being modest and grounded. “The most valuable lesson I believe I have taken away from this sport is how modest one can be, both when success is achieved and when failure is experienced. I’ve discovered that whatever you do on the ground, you have to leave it there,” he remarked.

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“This is only a portion of your life; it is not your entire existence. Therefore, you cannot be underground while things are bad and remain on top when things are going well. “As a sportsman, there is one thing you should never do. I have learned this lesson, and it helps me maintain balance in my life. When you are a decent person, good things come to pass.”