India head coach Gautam Gambhir has praised ‘phenomenal’ captain Suryakumar Yadav for his inspiring leadership and ability to create a relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room. Gambhir highlighted how the team atmosphere has been one of the key reasons for India’s success in the shortest format, adding that the Suryakumar “has made my life a lot easier.”
Notably, India has played eight bilateral T20I series and an Asia Cup after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and starting the 2026 edition, with Suryakumar captaining in seven of them. The only exception was the five-match series against Zimbabwe immediately after the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, when Shubman Gill led the team to a 4-1 win.
The coach emphasized that Suryakumar’s exceptional man-management skills have taken the burden off his shoulders and allowed him to focus on the more critical aspects.
“Surya has made my life a lot easier in this format, and I think he is a phenomenal leader of men, not because of the kind of batsman he is or the shots he plays. You can leave all that aside, but because of what he does on the cricket field. The way he interacts with players, the way he talks to them, the time he spends with them and how relaxed he is on the field. As a coach, it allows you to think about other things because you know he will be in charge keep the atmosphere calm, that’s what every coach can dream of,” Gambhir said on JioStar’s ‘Follow the Blues.
“For me, Surya, the player can be left out, but Surya, the leader, has ticked all the boxes. He is a phenomenal leader. It’s great to have someone like him leading the country because his heart is in the right place and he makes the right decisions, especially under pressure.”
Gambhir further elaborated on the need for a relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room, stating that every member of the current team enjoys each other’s success and thrives together.
“For me, they are a great group of young lads. They want to have fun, they want to play for each other. The atmosphere and the dressing room are relaxed, and that is extremely important because once you step onto the pitch it is serious business. However, the dressing room can never be serious all the time. Yes, you want to stay engaged, but you also have to be relaxed. In the dressing room you can’t be completely on edge. I think this environment has been very good.”
“There is always room for improvement, but these boys love playing for each other and sharing the dressing room together. That is one of the reasons why we have achieved results. Results are not just about the type of cricket you play; there are many other factors involved, and in this format we have had success because the boys really enjoy being with each other,” he added.
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