New Delhi: Indian men’s cricket team T20 International captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday, ahead of the three-match T20 Internationals against Bangladesh, was asked about the possibility of leading a team in the Indian Premier League.
The Mumbai player was quiet diplomatic with his response. Perhaps he didn’t wanted to add more fuel to an-already-tumultuous situation at five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians.
“Aapne googly daal diya. Aage dekhte hain. Baaki aapko pata toh chal hee jayega (You have bowled a googly. Let’s see what happens in the future. You guys will get to know about it (laughs),” Suryakumar played the googly with compact defense when asked about his desire to lead in IPL (invariably for MI).
The following comment isn’t a googly, but leaves the listener in divided opinions whether the ball will turn as a leg-breaker or the unorthodox way.
Suryakumar mentioned that he would often give inputs to former captain Rohit Sharma during his time as MI captain while acknowledging that he’s been enjoying the new role at the national team.
Suryakumar’s comments will surely garner mixed reactions, but the MI team management is thrown with another challenge here.
The last day of this month has a lot of surprises to fold up as all 10 teams will submit their IPL retentions.
Mumbai Indians’ last IPL season was marred by the captaincy change with their fans left livid when star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was named the captain ahead of veteran Rohit Sharma.
Though the two players might have got well along the national lines, the most curious question before the MI management is whom to name as the No.1 retention choice.
Whether its Rohit or Hardik, the MI team management isn’t going to escape a controversy. But with Suryakumar’s latest comment, a tricky but not so tricky situation can take birth.
Here’s how Suryakumar Yadav’s ambitious can take flight
When Hardik was named the MI captain following his success with the Gujarat Titans, including a raucous title run in 2022, a section questioned if MI were looking for an ideal successor to Rohit then they should have contemplate local boy Suryakumar as the idealistic choice.
Suryakumar was the vice-captain after MI released Kieron Pollard from the squad after another dismal IPL 2022 campaign.
He also stepped up as the stand-in captain for MI in IPL 2023 during their home game against Kolkata Knight Riders with Rohit playing as an impact player in that game.
In the hindsight, Suryakumar wasn’t in the reckoning for national leadership until April 2024. But just a few months ago, he pipped Pandya for the T20I skipper’s post.
As of October 6, 2024, the 34-year-old has led India in 11 T20Is when they stepped into the new stadium in Gwalior against Bangladesh in first T20I.
Suryakumar’s ‘inputs to Rohit’ comment has, inadvertently, thrown a hat in the ring for MI captaincy.
The retentions from this point gets anything but exhilarating.
Indian men’s cricket team T20 International captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday, ahead of the three-match T20 Internationals against Bangladesh, was asked about the possibility of leading a team in the Indian Premier League. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
