A leadership transition at the summit of world cricket can often feel like a sudden, unsettling change in weather, full of unknowns.
However, when Suryakumar Yadav first stepped out for the toss as the captain of a newly crowned World Cup team, the shift felt more like a gentle seasonal transition.
It was seamless, natural, and reassuringly familiar.
Taking over from the immensely popular Rohit Sharma in 2024 was never going to be easy, yet Suryakumar made the transition appear almost effortless.
India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, believes the grace with which Suryakumar embraced the role has been as impressive as any of his 360-degree strokes, noting that the Mumbai batter never altered his personality or approach despite inheriting one
of the most demanding jobs in the sport.
“He’s sort of built a rapport with his team in 18 months and I’ll never forget that he took over the World Championship side, which is extremely hard to do,” Ryan Ten Doeschate was quoted as saying.
“Like I said earlier, the most pleasing or admirable thing for me has been how he hasn’t changed his style for the 18 months. He’s had some tough times with runs and no pressure put on him, but one thing that’s been consistent is how he’s addressed the group, the mood he’s created in the camp at all times.”
SKY’s Greatest Strength Has Been…
According to the former Netherlands international, Suryakumar’s greatest strength has been his emotional evenness.
He has the innate ability to remain the same person whether he walks in after a duck or a match-winning blitz.
“Whether he scores zero or a match-winning 82 like that, I don’t know, he absolutely won’t change and that’s been almost therapeutic for the group to have that consistency,”he said.
“His leadership has been high, high class in the last 18 months.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
