"My relationship with Gautam Gambhir" - Suryakumar Yadav's scintillating revelation ahead of 1st series

Newly appointed Team India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav shared details about his relationship with head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Suryakumar Yadav said that Gambhir played a crucial role in his career during their time together at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The Indian cricket team will play three T20I matches and as many ODIs during the Sri Lanka tour. The tour will begin with the first T20I at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, July 27. The series marks the beginning of Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir's coach-captain partnership for India.

Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid as head coach of India before the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka. The head coach made the bold decision to back Suryakumar over all-rounder Hardik Pandya as T20I skipper after Rohit Sharma's retirement. Hardik was vice-captain of the national team in the T20 World Cup 2024.

My Relationship With Gautam Gambhir Is Quite Special - Suryakumar Yadav

In a video released by the BCCI on Instagram, Suryakumar Yadav recalled how his special bond with Gautam Gambhir began in the IPL 2014. The middle-order batter expressed excitement about working with Gambhir for the national cricket team.

"My relationship with him is quite special because I played under him in IPL 2014, and from there I started to get more opportunities. Teen kadam chale aur aap bhi do kadam aaye, aur beech mei kahi toh mile (Walked three steps, and you walked two steps, and we met along the way). It was that kind of a relationship, and it is still the same to this day. He knows how I work and my mindset for the game. Very excited to see how it goes forward," Suryakumar said.

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The Mumbai cricketer played 54 matches for Kolkata Knight Riders from 2014 to 2017. The right-handed batter scored 608 runs at an average of 22.52 and a strike rate of over 131, including one half-century. He served as vice-captain to Gautam Gambhir during that period.

I've Always Enjoyed Being A Leader - Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav stated that he is focused on leading the young Indian team after the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the format. He mentioned that he enjoys being a leader on the field, even if he is not the captain. Yadav added that he has learned a lot from playing under different captains.

"This is not your life, this is only a part of your life. When you do well you stay on top and when you are not doing well, you go underground, that is one thing that I feel you should not do as a sportsman, not only a cricketer. That's what helps me create balance in my life, so if you are a good person, then everything happens good."

"I've always enjoyed being a leader on the field even if I was not the captain. I've learned a lot of things while playing under different captains. So it's a good feeling and a great responsibility."

The 33-year-old was named as India's captain for the first time after the 2023 ODI World Cup. He led the Indian cricket team to a 4-1 series victory over Australia. The team drew 1-1 against South Africa under Sky's captaincy. He also led the Mumbai Indians (MI) on various occasions in the IPL.

Also read: Jasprit Bumrah breaks silence on Mumbai Indians nightmare for Hardik Pandya in IPL 2024