New Delhi: India’s T20 World Cup winning captain Suryakumar Yadav has revealed that a meeting with former skipper MS Dhoni before the tournament played an important role in shaping his approach during the campaign.
According to Suryakumar, he met Dhoni shortly before the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and received valuable advice on how to handle the pressure of a major international tournament. Dhoni encouraged him to trust the strength of the Indian team and emphasised the importance of playing with courage throughout the competition.
Suryakumar said the legendary wicketkeeper batter reminded him that India had a strong squad and that confidence and fearless cricket would be key to defending the title successfully. He added that Dhoni’s reaction after India’s victory was memorable and reflected his happiness at the team’s achievement.
India eventually lifted the trophy on March 8 in Ahmedabad, with Suryakumar becoming only the third Indian captain to win the T20 World Cup after Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. The achievement placed him among an elite group of leaders who have guided India to success in the shortest format of the game.
Reflecting on the accomplishment, Suryakumar described the feeling of winning consecutive T20 World Cup titles as extremely special. India had first lifted the trophy in 2024, and the captain said the team had always hoped to repeat the success when the tournament was held at home in 2026.
The 35 year old captain also revealed that the team has already set its sights on the next big milestone. With cricket set to feature in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Suryakumar said the Indian team now aims to win the gold medal.
He added that joining the same league as Dhoni and Rohit as a World Cup winning captain is a proud moment. However, he believes the focus should remain on continuing the team’s success and helping India win more major trophies in the years ahead.
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