India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav praised Varun Chakravarthy’s impressive return to international cricket, noting his improved mental toughness and positive demeanor. Chakravarthy’s standout performance of 5/42 against New Zealand helped India secure a spot in the semifinals. Suryakumar emphasized the importance of selecting players with specific skills while acknowledging the strength of Mumbai Indians’ leadership, featuring multiple captains. He remarked that teamwork transcends individual roles and highlighted his commitment to excelling in all formats of the game, driven by his passion for cricket. Suryakumar’s focus remains on contributing to the team’s success, one match at a time.
India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav stated on Tuesday that mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has transformed since his return to international cricket, indicating he is now mentally stronger and plays with a joyful demeanor. Chakravarthy showcased impressive figures of 5/42 in India’s commanding win against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, which secured the team a top position in their group en route to the tournament semifinals. “The way he left in 2021 and the way he has come back, there are two different Varun Chakravarthys,” Suryakumar, who is the brand ambassador for Moha, shared with the media at an event.
“He has developed a tougher mental outlook while still maintaining a smile and handling every situation on the field gracefully, which is great for a cricketer.” The inclusion of Chakravarthy, who missed the first two group matches, turned out to be an inspired decision.
“I am genuinely pleased for him. He has earned everything (for) his hard work and the recognition for his journey,” Suryakumar remarked.
“He has been an extraordinarily dedicated athlete since 2021; I’ve followed his progress and had numerous discussions with him since his comeback to international cricket.” Suryakumar emphasized that it’s crucial for teams to select players with particular skill sets, even as the trend in the shorter format leans towards all-rounders.
“Ultimately, it’s all about your abilities and what you contribute to the team. If it benefits the team, then those bowlers should be chosen.” Suryakumar also mentioned that Mumbai Indians will not encounter any leadership dilemmas in the IPL as they have all current Indian captains in their roster.
“Once we step into our environment, it feels like a family, so we don’t concern ourselves with having three or four captains. We consider ourselves as one team,” he elaborated.
“It’s akin to an institution where we have learned and matured, eventually advancing to represent India. We operate as a cohesive unit in the dressing room,” he continued.
While Hardik Pandya leads the Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions also feature India’s Test captain Rohit Sharma, T20I captain Suryakumar, and Jasprit Bumrah, who has captained India in two Tests during the Australia tour.
“Indeed, we are a team full of captains, but when we gather, whether it’s five, seven, or ten of us, we strategize… on how we wish to navigate forward,” stated the 34-year-old Suryakumar, expressing his intention to focus on all formats for the time being.
“When I began my cricket journey, it was all about red-ball cricket. Gradually, I transitioned to white-ball formats and was then introduced to ODIs and T20Is,” he explained.
“That’s why I play across all formats; my passion for the sport drives me. I love playing this game wholeheartedly, and I tackle one format at a time,” he concluded.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article