Suryakumar Yadav breaks silence on ODI snub and bond with 'leader' Hardik Pandya

India National Cricket Team captain Suryakumar Yadav was in full form at the press conference ahead of the five-match T20I series opener against England, starting on Wednesday, January 22, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. His one-liners were the major attraction during the presser.

Well, Suryakumar Yadav is all set to return to action for the India National Cricket Team for the first time since the home series against Bangladesh in October 2024 with the upcoming white-ball series against England. India and England will lock horns against each other in 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs.

Suryakumar Yadav opens up about his bond with Hardik Pandya

Ahead of the first T20I at the Eden Gardens, the Indian skipper has shed light on his equation with Hardik Pandya, whom he piped to become the T20I captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the shorter format of the game after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

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Suryakumar has insisted there is a strong camaraderie and mutual understanding between him and Hardik Pandya. The India captain also noted that Hardik is an integral part of the team's leadership group, saying their bond strengthened over years of friendship.

Suryakumar Yadav said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday (January 21) in Kolkata: “The relationship with Hardik is really great. It's just the added responsibility that I have got. Hardik is part of the leading group. We have been good friends.”

It hurts that I haven't done well in ODIs: Suryakumar Yadav on ICC Champions Trophy 2025 snub

Additionally, Suryakumar also expressed his frustration at his poor ODI numbers as he addressed his exclusion from India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He acknowledged that his struggles in the format didn’t help him and admitted the need to elevate his ODI game.

The explosive batter added, “It hurts that I haven't done well in ODIs. That's why I'm not in the Champions Trophy squad. If I had done well, I would have been there.”

Meanwhile, India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir is under immense pressure to deliver results following the team’s recent losses against Australia and New Zealand. However, Suryakumar Yadav insisted that the Men in Blue are heading in the right direction under Gambhir.

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Suryakumar Yadav expresses confidence in Gautam Gambhir's leadership ahead of the T20I series

The Indian skipper shared the experience of playing under Gautam Gambhir's leadership for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), sharing that he has had the opportunity to play under Gambhir for four years.

He emphasized that Gambhir’s leadership style focuses on keeping things simple and giving players the freedom to express themselves. Suryakumar signed off by saying, “I have played under Gauti bhai for four years. We are moving in the right direction. Gauti bhai keeps things simple. Gives us a lot of freedom.”

Notably, India has a strong record against England in T20I cricket, as they have won 13 out of the 24 matches that they’ve played against each other so far. The Indian team has also won the last four T20I series against England, making them the favorites to win the upcoming home series.