Suryakumar Yadav Opens Up on IPL 2025 Captaincy Prospects
Suryakumar Yadav, who has been a prominent figure in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since his debut in 2012, recently addressed the possibility of captaining a team in the upcoming 2025 edition of the tournament. Despite being a seasoned player for teams like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the 34-year-old has yet to lead a side. Interestingly, he served as the vice-captain for KKR back in 2015 but has not had the opportunity to take on the full captaincy role.
Set to Lead India Against Bangladesh
Currently, Suryakumar is gearing up to lead the Indian national team in a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, captained by Najmul Hossain Shanto. Ahead of the first match in Gwalior, when asked if he would be interested in leading an IPL team, Suryakumar responded with his characteristic wit. “Aapne googly daal diya aapne (You put me in a spot with a wrong ‘un),” he laughed, showing his playful side.
A Growing Leadership Role for India
Suryakumar’s journey as a captain began in 2023 when he led India in a five-match T20I series against Australia. Since then, he has captained the Men in Blue in several T20Is, including series against South Africa and Sri Lanka. His leadership role has continued to evolve, especially after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the shorter formats of the game.
“Really enjoying this new role (as India captain). When I was playing under Rohit bhai’s captaincy in MI, I used to give my inputs whatever I felt at that time,” Suryakumar said, reflecting on his growth as a leader.
Learning from Other Captains
Having observed and learned from some of the best captains in cricket, Suryakumar is confident in his leadership abilities. “For India also feeling good. I captained against Sri Lanka, previously against Australia, and South Africa also. I have learnt from other captains on how to take the team forward,” he added. When pressed further about the IPL captaincy, Suryakumar cheekily responded, “Aage dekhte hain. Chalte rahta hain. Baaki aapko pata toh chal hee jayega” (Let’s see how it goes. Rest you will know in due course of time).
Impressive Captaincy Stats
In his 10 matches as captain of the Indian T20I team, Suryakumar has proven his worth not only as a leader but also as a top-class batsman. He has scored 392 runs at an average of 39.20, including a century against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
As fans eagerly anticipate the IPL 2025 season, it remains to be seen whether Suryakumar Yadav will don the captain’s hat. However, his growing stature as a leader in the Indian cricket team suggests that he is more than ready for the challenge.(online casino real money)