A Test comeback is the last thing on Suryakumar Yadav’s mind despite wanting to add to his lone test cap way back in ’23.
A test comeback is not something T20 skipper Surykumar Yadav is thinking of as he gears to lead India against South Africa in a 4-match T20 series starting today.
He has not given up hope of adding to his lone Test cap, insisting that he is playing as much domestic cricket as possible in order to re-enter the Test squad.
Suryakumar played his first and only Test against Australia in early 2023, and while his T20I credentials have improved, a Test call-up remains difficult. The 34-year-old is attempting to correct this. He played a Ranji Trophy game for Mumbai last month and appeared for India B in a Duleep Trophy match in September, but had little success.
“When the time comes, I will make a Test comeback,” Suryakumar said ahead of India’s first T20I against South Africa in Durban. “I am playing all the domestic tournaments, be it red-ball or white-ball. I don’t miss any game. If that [Test comeback] has to happen, it will happen.”
Suryakumar also backed Test and ODI skipper Rohit Sharma, who has been under fire following India’s 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand in a Test series.
“In sports, winning and losing are common. Everyone works hard, everyone wants to win,” he said. “For me, the most important thing in life is the balance. Whether he’s [Rohit] doing well or not, his character does not change. That is one quality which I feel a sportsman should always have.”
Suryakumar, the T20I captain who took over full-time when Rohit retired from the format following India’s T20 World Cup victory in June, is still in his early days. Suryakumar, who has played under Rohit for India and the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, said he has “learnt a lot” from him, particularly how he manages young players, which he is attempting to incorporate into his captaincy.
“I know how he [Rohit] treats the players, what he wants from them. So that route I have also taken because he’s been very successful recently,” Suryakumar said. “When I am on the ground, I keep noticing how his body language is, how calm he is under pressure situations, how he talks to the bowlers, how he treats everyone on the field and off the field.
“Most importantly, from a leader you expect how much time he is spending with you to have that comfort. I try to replicate that. When I am not on the ground, I try and spend time with my team-mates, have a meal with them, travel together.
“These are the small things which reflect on the ground. If you want to earn your team-mate’s respect and if you want him to deliver on the ground, all these things are very important. I add a bit of my own spice, and we are going forward.”