Suryakumar Yadav is not shying away from the responsibility that comes with leading India into another global showdown. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fast approaching, the Indian captain has spoken openly about the demands of leadership, the hunger to defend the title, and the special significance of playing a World Cup on home soil.
India head into the 2026 edition as defending champions after their memorable triumph in Barbados in June 2024. This time, however, the spotlight is firmly on Suryakumar, who will lead the Men in Blue at an ICC event for the first time in his career.
Having made his international debut after the age of 30, Suryakumar’s rise in T20 cricket has been nothing short of remarkable. From redefining middle-order batting to winning the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year award in both 2022 and 2023, he has now added captaincy to his expanding résumé. His record speaks volumes — 28 wins from 38 matches as India’s T20I skipper — underlining the calm authority with which he has handled the role so far.
Speaking to the ICC recently, Suryakumar admitted that leadership has changed his outlook both on and off the field.
“There are a lot of players who I have to take care of on the field, off the field now,” he said, reflecting on the biggest shift he has experienced over the last few years.
Yet, despite the added responsibility, the 35-year-old sounded content with the environment within the squad. According to him, the dressing room atmosphere has played a huge role in India’s consistency since the 2024 World Cup.
“The boys have been very good. The response has been good on the ground. The atmosphere is completely relaxed. Everything is going really well.”
Suryakumar took charge at a transitional phase for Indian cricket. The retirements of senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja from the T20I format meant the team had to evolve quickly. What followed was the emergence of a fearless, younger core that has bought fully into the aggressive brand of cricket India are now known for.
“There are a lot of players who’ve come in doing really well, making my job easier when I’m on the ground. It’s good to have them around playing this brand of cricket — being fearless. That’s what we talk about in this format,” he explained.
The results back up his words. India have not lost a T20I series since lifting the trophy in 2024, underlining their status as one of the teams to beat in 2026.
Beyond team success, Suryakumar also revealed a deeply personal ambition. After India’s celebrations in 2024, the conversation at home quickly turned to what might come next.
“When we won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and came back to India, this captaincy stint started. My wife told me the next goal has to be becoming a World Cup-winning captain,” he shared.
That dream carries extra weight this time. The 2026 tournament will be held in India, offering the chance to lift the trophy in front of home fans — a scenario few captains ever get to experience. Suryakumar is well aware of the history at stake too, with no nation having successfully defended the Men’s T20 World Cup title so far.
“It will be a very good challenge, a big responsibility, and I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun playing in India,” he said.
As the conversation turned to past World Cups, Suryakumar was also asked about the unforgettable moment from the 2024 final — his sensational boundary catch in the closing over that sealed India’s second T20 title.
“I must have seen it more than a million times,” he admitted with a smile. “Wherever I go, people still remind me of that catch. It’s saved on my phone, and I keep watching it because it was a special moment.”
With leadership settled, form intact, and motivation sky-high, Suryakumar Yadav now carries the hopes of a cricketing nation. As India prepare for their title defence at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the captain’s words reflect a squad confident, united, and ready to chase history once again.
