Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and his wife Devisha Shetty have welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The news arrives during a milestone year for the 35-year-old cricketer, who led India to a T20 World Cup title earlier in January 2026. The couple, who married in July 2016, announced the birth on social media with a heartwarming message: "With giggles, bows, and dreams to unfurl—we welcome our baby girl".
In cricket, there is a famous trope about players performing better after the birth of a child (often called 'Dad Strength'). Fans are hoping this personal joy helps Surya break his current slump of 183 runs in 10 games. While he is skipping the Raipur trip, he is expected to rejoin the bubble ahead of the May
14 match against PBKS in Dharamsala, provided the family is settled. Having just captained India to the T20 World Cup trophy in January 2026, Surya is now at the absolute peak of his influence in Indian cricket, making this personal milestone even more significant for the national captain.
Who will take on leadership in Sky’s absence at Raipur?
The leadership of the Mumbai Indians (MI) for the Raipur clash on May 10, 2026, remains a subject of intense speculation due to the absence of the primary captaincy group in the initial travel contingent. Although he missed the travel with the first batch on Wednesday, reports from Hindustan Times indicate that regular captain Hardik Pandya is scheduled to reach Raipur on Thursday night, May 7. He will undergo a fitness test during a full-fledged net session on Friday, May 8, to determine if his back spasm has sufficiently healed. If cleared, he will resume captaincy immediately
In case Pandya is deemed unfit, Rohit Sharma (the former captain) , is most likely to take on the leadership in the absence of the captain and vice-captain. He was part of the first contingent that arrived in Raipur and his leadership experience is seen as vital for MI's survival in the playoff race. As a senior figure and current vice-captain of the Indian team, Jasprit Bumrah is a top tactical option if the management decides to keep Rohit focused purely on his batting. Reports from News24 mention Tilak Verma as a "surprise leadership option" that the franchise may consider for a long-term transition.
