‘Selfless Surya did it for the team’ Indian skipper's father praises his son's team approach

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav with wife Devisha, dad Ashok Kumar (left), mum Swapna (second from left), sister Dinal Yadav (second from right), and brother-in-law Krishna Mohan (right) are all smiles as they hold the ICC T20 World Cup trophy in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Pic/Getty Images

T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav did not make the best impression with the bat in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday, but it's his selflessness that has helped the team excel, his father Ashok Kumar told mid-day on Monday.

Surya, who came out to bat with the score reading 204-3 in 15.5 overs, was dismissed for a first-ball duck by NZ pacer James Neesham as he attempted his trademark lofted sweep shot towards deep backward square leg only to be caught by a diving Rachin Ravindra.

SKY's team-first approach

When asked to describe what he felt at seeing Surya's early dismissal, Ashok Kumar replied: "It was slightly disappointing, but that was the need of the hour. Surya had to play that shot to keep up the high scoring rate [set up by the earlier batters]. We [Yadav family] were watching the match from the Presidential Suite and Surya's catch was taken right in front of us. Had that ball been a few inches to the right of the fielder [Ravindra], it would have surely gone for a six. The scoop shot can be a very tough and demanding one and Surya plays it well. But that's what bad luck can do. Surya is a very selfless player. He has never bothered about his personal score. He is only bothered about the team total and plays his shots keeping that in mind."

Nerves before the big final

Surya, 35, who started India's T20 World Cup campaign scoring a match-winning unbeaten 84 off 49 balls against USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, finished as the team's third-highest run-getter with 242 runs. Yadav Sr though revealed that his son was nervous before the final. "Before the start of the match, Surya was nervous and understandably so, as this is such a big final. But being a senior and a seasoned player, he could somehow overcome that nervousness. And the moment our Powerplay went well [India scored 92 without loss in six overs], 50 per cent match was won there itself, so you could see him smile. It's a proud feeling to know that Surya's name will now be taken alongside that of [1983 World Cup-winning captain] Kapil Dev, [2007 T20 World Cup-winning captain] Mahendra Singh Dhoni and [2024 T20 World Cup-winning skipper] Rohit Sharma," said Ashok Kumar.

Surya's next big target is a gold medal at the 2028

Olympics in Los Angeles, revealed Ashok Kumar. "It's tough for India to win an Olympic gold in other sports, but this team is doing so well, I'm sure they can win that ultimate honour in Los Angeles," Ashok Kumar signed off.

Zero
No. of series/tournaments Suryakumar has lost as T20I captain. India have won eight bilateral series under his leadership and drawn one besides winning the Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup

242
No. of runs scored by Suryakumar; third highest for India at this World Cup

80.77
SKY's winning percentage as India T20 skipper (52 matches, 8 losses, 2 washouts)