The Indian team has been struggling on the field, especially in catching, which is clearly a concern for the No. 1 ranked T20I side. Even in the recent Asia Cup, a tournament they won without losing a single match, their fielding looked below par.
As of early 2025, India’s fishing efficiency of 82.7% ranks only fifth among full-member countries, a statistic that leads Suryakumar Yadav is determined to improve as his team prepares to defend the T20 World Cup title next year.
“I think catches are falling away. If you are a fielder, you go for the catch, then you fall. Just like how you get out if you are a batsman. Or if you are a bowler, you try to land the ball well, but you don’t get the wicket. This is all part of the game,” Suryakumar said at the pre-match press conference.
“But I think what you do next is more important. Today was an optional session. But today everyone came to the field. So that means the team is working towards something very special. And this is a department where I have said we will have to work hard if we want to be the best fielding unit in the world. You see how many teams take good catches, do good fielding, win matches with fielding. So if the batting is light or the bowling is here and there, but with fielding, if u If you do one thing well, you can win a competition. So we are working hard,” he added.
The idea is to build an energy so contagious that it can carry the team through even the dullest passages of play. For Suryakumar, fieldwork is as much about mood as it is about method. It’s about creating joy and connection in a game that so often differentiates players based on their role.
“We are working hard on it. But there is no guarantee that if you catch 25 catches today [in training]you won’t miss it tomorrow. It can be missed. It’s part of the game. But how much you want the ball to come to you, how you try to create that intention and opportunity, that’s important to me. If the catch is missed, there is no problem. It is clear that there is disappointment. But at the same time, if you put in the effort, there is no problem,” said Suryakumar.
“I think there is only one department – fielding – where everyone comes together. Otherwise everyone’s batting skills are individual. Bowling skills are individual. But there is only fielding where eleven people live together on the ground. So it is important to create an atmosphere there no matter what is happening in the match. If the other team is on top and you play well, you can win the game. So what I am saying is that if you live on the ground, you create an atmosphere together,” says him. added.
Suryakumar emphasized the importance of having fun on the field, especially when the pressure increases, and creating an atmosphere where players can enjoy the game. He also reflected on his personal form after scoring 100 runs in 11 innings in 2025 with a strike rate of 105.26. Yet his words, like his body language, convey a sense of calm rather than concern.
“We met the T20 team just two days before the team session. Before that, some of the boys were playing for one day. So it is very important to have fun on the ground. Because all these things reflect on the ground when you are in a pressure situation. Or when you know the game is a bit tight. And how you can create an atmosphere at that moment and enjoy it. So all these little things come to mind,” Suryakumar said.
“I feel like I’ve been working really hard. Even before that I was doing it. It’s not that I wasn’t working hard before, I’m still working hard. I’ve had some good sessions at home, good 2-3 sessions here. So I’m in a good space. I think that’s very important. Runs will come eventually, but I think working hard towards the team goal… it’s more important what the team wants from you in different situations and I take one game at a time and when it starts, then I think it will be a good thing,” he added.
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