India began their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 journey with a convincing 29-run triumph over the USA at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium, setting the stage
for a confident push in their title defense.
Eager to build momentum, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side now targets Namibia in their second group-stage clash.
On JioStar's popular 'Follow the Blues' program, the skipper reflected on the team's red-hot streak in T20 cricket across the last 18 months-a period marked by series sweeps against Australia and South Africa, plus a flawless record in home T20Is. He pinpointed the secret sauce as India look to defend their title on home soil.
As India take on Namibia on Thursday and then the much-awaited clash against Pakistan takes place, India captain Suryakumar Yadav sounded extremely confident of his team's hopes.
"If you prioritise team goals ahead of personal milestones, more often than not, I feel the team will be in a dominant position. Only we can stop ourselves if we overanalyse or slip into a negative mindset, but I feel this team is fully prepared for the T20 World Cup. I don't see any reason why we can't go all the way," Suryakumar said.
The India captain also emphasized on the importance of a jovial atmosphere in the team, which is achieved through players' honesty and freedom of speech.
"Honesty and freedom of speech are essential to a team sport. It's important to listen to other players, as they might have an insight that could be beneficial for the team. Also, giving everyone the freedom to play their natural game, which has helped them reach this level, is key to maintaining a healthy team atmosphere. Looking at our win percentage over the last one or two years, which has been impressive, we must be doing something right," he added.
The Indian team is the outright favourites to win the World Cup for the third time, and Suryakumar Yadav will play a key role as a leader if they are to achieve that.
