Suryakumar Yadav has finally opened up about one of the biggest surprises of his international career. The India T20 World Cup-winning captain was dropped from the national team shortly after leading the side to the title earlier this year.
The decision came as a shock because Suryakumar had enjoyed a successful run as India’s T20I captain. Under his leadership, India did not lose a single series and also won the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.
However, the selectors decided to look beyond Suryakumar and handed the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming series against Ireland and England. The main concern surrounding Suryakumar was his batting form, particularly after a difficult period in which runs became increasingly difficult to score.
Suryakumar did not register a single fifty for India in 2025. Even during the T20 World Cup, he had only one major innings, which came against the USA at his home ground, Wankhede Stadium. Despite his struggles with the bat, his captaincy remained impressive.
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Suryakumar has now revealed what went through his mind when he discovered that he had been left out of the squad.
“I smiled when my name was not there. Because when I played cricket with the team for a year or two, and whenever I am playing, so whenever I have been in situations like where there is pressure, where things are not going my way, I have always smiled. I have relaxed. And this is what I have seen: the moments in the past when I have had opportunities to do well. I have been grateful,” said Suryakumar during a conversation with former India batter Aakash Chopra on the latter’s YouTube channel.
The India batter said he had initially expected to continue leading the team for the next couple of years. With the Olympics and another T20 World Cup ahead, Suryakumar believed he would remain an important part of India’s plans.
“Obviously, the situation that has come now, even I had not thought that this would happen. After coming in 2026, I felt that, going forward, I would be taking this team forward for another two years. The Olympics will come. Then there will be another T20 World Cup, another challenge going forward. But at the same time, what you think and what the other person thinks are two different things. It is important for them to respect their own thoughts. If they thought that going forward, this is a better call, they took that call. But I didn’t react. Because I felt that this was their call. They took that call in that moment. Going forward, if this team can do well under someone else, no problem,” he added.
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Although Suryakumar accepted the selectors’ decision initially, he admitted that he found it difficult to understand the reasoning behind it.
The biggest question in his mind was why there needed to be a change when India had been so successful under his leadership. The team had not lost a series during his captaincy and had also lifted major trophies.
“I have seen the team that they have chosen. I have also played a lot of cricket with Shreyas. And I know he is a good player, a good human being, and a good captain also. So, I was not like, ‘Why did they make him the captain?’ But yes, I was a little disappointed. Because you have not lost a single series in two years. You have won the World Cup and the Asia Cup. Then you want the same thing to go forward. Because when everything is going well, then why? What is the reason for the change? What is the reason for the change? It was going on in my mind. I was sitting at home for a month and a half,” said SKY.
Suryakumar also admitted that he found himself thinking about the decision repeatedly while spending time away from cricket.
“I was thinking, how can this happen? How is it possible? We just won the World Cup. Yes, IPL was not as good as how I wanted. We were sitting at home. Friends came, family came. Everyone said that it’s okay. Part of life. But then, when they leave the house. We stay alone at home,” he added.
Communication with selectors
Suryakumar also revealed that the selectors contacted him shortly before the squad was officially announced. He was informed that he would not be part of the team for the series against England.
The batter said he did not react angrily to the decision. Instead, he accepted that the selectors had made what they believed was the best decision for Indian cricket.
“They called me 2-3 days before the team was announced. They called me, saying it’s time to move on. I didn’t react. Because it’s not my fault. That’s not how SKY has ever been. Whatever call someone took. He must have thought that this was better for the team. Going forward, this will be a good call. You took the call. You told me. There is no problem,” said SKY.
Despite being dropped, Suryakumar made it clear that he is still ready to play for India whenever the opportunity comes his way.
“I am ready. You can call me anytime. I am playing cricket anytime. I will continue to play. Whenever you feel the time is right. Things are right,” he added.
