Indian cricket captain Suryakumar Yadav recently shifted the conversation around the highly anticipated India-Pakistan matches from intense rivalry to pure entertainment. He stressed the importance of delivering high-quality cricket to the fans filling the stadiums.
Suryakumar Yadav (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Addressing reporters, Yadav light-heartedly dismissed questions about the historical rivalry, stating, “I don’t know what rivalry you are talking about. I just feel that when the stadium is full, it’s a call for entertainment. People come to watch the match, so we must entertain them with a good brand of cricket.”
With another significant Asia Cup showdown against Pakistan looming on Sunday, Yadav acknowledged the considerable challenge of managing the intense external pressures that precede such critical matches.
During their previous encounter, Yadav, who remained unbeaten with 47 runs, notably did not shake hands with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha at either the toss or after the game.
This gesture was a deliberate act of solidarity, paying tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and dedicating the team’s victory to the Indian Armed Forces. The action itself generated considerable tension with the neighboring country leading up to the Asia Cup Super 4s clash.
When probed further on how he handles such overwhelming external pressures, Yadav offered his strategy for managing distractions.
He advised, “Close your room, switch off your phone and sleep. I think that’s the best thing.” He admitted it’s easier said than done, as players often encounter friends and dine out, exposing them to various external influences.
Yadav emphasized personal control: “It’s on you what you want to listen to, what you want to have in your mind and go on and have a practice session or go on and have a game.”
Above all, the captain reiterated the critical importance of maintaining unwavering team focus throughout the tournament.
He clearly communicated to his team, “I have been very clear with all the boys, I think it’s very important if we want to do well this tournament and going forward, we will have to shut a lot of noise from outside and take what is good for you. I am not saying shut the noise completely, but take what is good for you and someone can give you good advice which can help you in the game and on the ground.”
When pressed on the team’s prior performance and his no-handshake stance, Yadav deftly steered the conversation back to cricket, asking, “By other things, you mean we bowled well, isn’t it?”
Regarding match preparations, Yadav exuded confidence in the team’s readiness after three strong games. He added, “I feel our preparations have been really good leading into the tournament, and we had three good games also. So we are actually focusing on what we can do best.”
He also downplayed the significance of winning the toss in the challenging hot and humid conditions, emphasizing, “We will have to start well from scratch, and whoever plays well will win the game.”