India’s dynamic T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, recently steered his team to victory in the Asia Cup 2025, overcoming Pakistan in a nail-biting final held in Dubai. Having already tasted success as a player in the T20 World Cup 2024, Surya now openly expresses his belief that he could have also taken on the leadership role in One Day Internationals, had circumstances, and perhaps a more extended run in the 50-over format, aligned differently.
With Rohit Sharma stepping down from Test cricket, the mantle of Test captaincy has passed to Shubman Gill, who is also set to lead India in ODIs.
Gill’s first challenge as ODI captain will be the forthcoming series against Australia, commencing October 19.
During a recent podcast appearance, Surya revealed his aspirations for ODI captaincy.
He stated, “Now I reflect and think that if I had performed better in the ODI format, just as the T20I captaincy is progressing, I might have also been considered for the ODI captaincy. I’m thinking about it now; I didn’t before. It’s because the format involves about 30 overs and is a bit longer. The ball color is the same, and the jersey is almost identical. I will still try my absolute best. It has always been a dream.”
He further elaborated on his conversations at home, saying, “When we are at home, my wife and I often discuss this: ‘If my ODI cricket had gone well, you never know.’ When Rohit Bhai eventually retires from ODI captaincy, who will step up to lead? If you are performing consistently, you could certainly be a strong contender. The opportunity in ODI cricket hasn’t completely passed yet.”
While not included in the upcoming ODI series, Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead India’s T20I squad in a five-match series against Australia, scheduled to take place from October 29 to November 8.