Despite being seated on a lounge chair at an upscale resort in Bengaluru, enjoying the soothing breeze in September 2019, Mumbai coach Vinayak Samant couldn’t shake his concerns. He let out a sentiment that’s been echoed by many former Mumbai cricketers after a disappointing performance in domestic tournaments: “Our players don’t value the Mumbai cap these days.”
Acknowledging a problem was only the first step; Samant needed a solution. His answer was bold and perhaps unexpected: “I want to make Suryakumar Yadav the captain of the team.”
This decision was not due to a lack of options but was rooted in observing Suryakumar’s transformation over the years. Despite his tumultuous first tenure as Mumbai’s captain in 2014-15—which was marred by anger issues, resentment from teammates, and an unceremonious mid-season removal—Samant saw potential in Suryakumar’s evolution. He noted how younger players were increasingly drawn to Suryakumar, appreciating the balance of guidance and camaraderie he offered. Samant’s observations were compelling enough to discuss the move with Ajit Agarkar, the then-chief selector of Mumbai.
Fast forward to an hour later, and Suryakumar’s reaction to being considered for captaincy again told another story. His eyes lit up, a smile spread across his face, and he spoke eagerly about the ‘honour’ and ‘pride’ of leading Mumbai. Importantly, he acknowledged the mistakes of his past and assured that he was now a calmer, more composed individual. Yet, the question lingered: how many were willing to place their faith in him again?
In December of that year, Suryakumar was handed the captaincy, but his term was brief. A group stage exit in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, followed by the global pandemic and his rapid rise to the national team, meant his second stint as captain left little room to redefine his leadership image.
Cut to 2024, Suryakumar has now ascended to the most high-pressure role in Indian cricket, superseding others who had been groomed to succeed Rohit Sharma. The choice of Suryakumar as the Indian captain is intriguing, particularly because it’s uncommon for a non-IPL captain to be given such responsibility.
The same cricketer who had faced expulsion from his captaincy role a decade ago due to teammate complaints is now backed by a new cadre of peers. However, nearly 14 years after his first-class debut, the cricketing world remains curious about what kind of captain Suryakumar will be.
. Key figures in the Indian men’s leadership team—Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar, and Abhishek Nayar—have closely watched his growth, yet much of their evaluation of his captaincy skills in 2024 remains speculative.
Questions abound: How will Suryakumar handle the trust of his teammates? How will he react to the immense pressure of leading the national team? Will his batting suffer under the weight of captaincy?
Suryakumar himself describes his personality change as a ‘complete swap.’ He reflects, “In 10 years, you become a different person altogether. You get to learn a lot of things. I’m also a completely changed man now.” Yet, this “new version” of Suryakumar has had very limited captaincy exposure—only seven T20Is and an IPL game in a temporary capacity.
During his years away from a leadership role, Suryakumar has played under successful captains like Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir and has earned their trust. Both have significantly influenced his career, as he openly admits. In Rohit, he saw a tactical leader whose approach he hopes to emulate—but in his own style.
Now, a dream of his cricketing journey has been fulfilled. He’s taking the most scrutinized seat in Indian cricket, tasked with guiding the team forward. The box in his cricketing dream is ticked; the plan is laid out, and now it’s time for execution. A few might harbor doubts, but Samant maintains his confidence in Suryakumar’s ability, echoes of the past included.
The selectors have placed their bet on him, and as Suryakumar steps into the role, the narrative of his captaincy is entirely in his hands. With the pen, paper, and ink firmly under his control, it’s his story to write—Suryakumar Yadav, the captain, 2.0.