Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has expressed his support for newly-appointed T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who will lead the team on its upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Shastri believes that Suryakumar’s experience and dynamic batting style will make him a successful leader.
Suryakumar has captained India in T20I series against Australia and South Africa in the past, and has also led Mumbai domestically. Shastri believes that this experience will be invaluable in his new role.
“He is street smart… he is one of the best T20 players in the world at the moment,” Shastri said. “He is a match-winner on his own, walks into the team day in, day out in that format of the game on his own steam, so I think it is not a bad idea at all.”
Shastri also stressed the importance of Suryakumar understanding and managing India’s diverse bowling options.
“One thing that he (Suryakumar) will have to learn from his side is what are the strengths of his bowlers and what are their limitations,” Shastri said. “I never say a bowler has a weakness, I say a limitation, and then there are strengths. And then focus on the right things and set fields accordingly. I think that is what he will have to learn.”
Shastri believes that Suryakumar’s captaincy style will be similar to his playing style.
“I think it will [captaincy style] be much like his personality, the way he plays the game,” Shastri said. “He will be thinking very quickly and the fact that he knows all these players, even the senior players, I think he will be in a great position to handle the team.”
