India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has expressed his desire to be recognized as a leader rather than merely a captain. His astute captaincy skills were evident in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, where he guided India to a successful defense of their total.
Faced with a daunting chase of 214, Sri Lanka’s openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, threatened to spoil India’s plans. However, Suryakumar’s tactical brilliance came to the fore. He brought back Arshdeep Singh, who dismissed Mendis, and then introduced Axar Patel, whose spin wizardry removed Perera and Nissanka, effectively turning the tide in India’s favor.
Suryakumar’s leadership qualities were lauded by former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan. However, Suryakumar aspires to be more than just a captain. “I don’t want to be a captain; I want to be a leader,” he stated.
One of the highlights of the match was Suryakumar’s decision to hand the ball to Riyan Parag. Despite failing with the bat, Parag proved his worth with the ball, claiming three wickets for just five runs in 1.2 overs. Suryakumar explained his rationale for giving Parag the opportunity, citing his impressive bowling skills in the IPL and nets.
India ultimately defended their total, restricting Sri Lanka to 170. With a 1-0 lead in the series, India secured an unassailable advantage in the second T20I.
