New Delhi: India’s T20 star Suryakumar Yadav will lead the national side for the first time in a multi-nation tournament at the Asia Cup 2025, marking a new chapter in his leadership journey. With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, the tournament will test his ability to manage pressure, rotate squads, and handle the challenges of a high-stakes multi-team format.
At a pre-tournament press conference, SKY delivered a characteristic mix of wit and confidence when asked about the added responsibilities of captaincy.
“Till now everything is going alright sir, toh kyu bina matlab ka ungli karna hai? (Why unnecessarily meddle?) We will continue to do and follow the same things we have done in all of the bilaterals so far. If some things are working, that means we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
Since being appointed India’s permanent T20I captain, Suryakumar has enjoyed a successful run. Under his leadership, India have won 13 of 15 matches, including series victories against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and a 3-1 triumph in South Africa.
On being labeled as “runaway favourites” for the Asia Cup, SKY laughed off the notion:
“Who told you this? I did not hear this. Yes, we are playing T20 cricket as a team after quite some time, but we were here early,” he remarked.
India will begin their group-stage campaign against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking the team’s first white-ball outing since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in March. This match will serve as a crucial opportunity for team management to test combinations before the marquee clash against Pakistan on September 14, which promises to be a tournament highlight.
With Suryakumar at the helm, India aim to balance calm leadership with strategic aggression, setting the tone for a strong showing at the Asia Cup.
