Suryakumar Yadav gets orders to massage Indian players' ego

Former Indian Murali Kartik and cricket expert Harsha Bhogle have issued a stern warning for Suryakumar Yadav as India gears up to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 clash on Sunday, September 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

With the current India T20I team full of talent but also full of emotions, Harsha Bhogle and Murali Kartik feel Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy will be under intense scrutiny. They felt the Indian captain’s ability to balance ambition with empathy will be key for success going forward.

Suryakumar Yadav must handle egos and expectations to lead India to glory: Cricket experts

These cricket pundits suggest that the Indian captain must manage players’ egos, expectations, and relationships to achieve the success he and the team want in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 and upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

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Bhogle explained that Suryakumar now leads a team filled with top achievers, and his job is not just to win matches but to keep every player feeling included and happy. The cricket expert has pointed out that players like Sanju Samson, who has been pushed into the middle order despite doing everything right, must stay positive and trust that the changes are for his benefit.

Harsha Bhogle said on Cricbuzz, “He will increasingly be with a team of great achievers. And how does he make each of those achievers happy and generate a sense of belonging within the side?"

"His first test is going to come now where he's got to; Sanju Samson's got to believe whatever is happening is happening for his good. This is a team of phenomenally gifted players, and he's got to make all of them feel good. So, his challenge is beginning now, and I wish him well.”

Read Also: IND vs PAK Weather Report, Pitch Report Of Dubai- Asia Cup 2025, Match 6

Murali Kartik urges Suryakumar Yadav to connect with standby and backup players

Meanwhile, Murali Kartik feels that the Indian captain, Suryakumar, must also stay connected with players who are not in the squad because they could be called up anytime if someone loses form or gets injured during the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE.

Murali Kartik said during the same discussion, “I think as a captain sometimes you also have to speak to people whom you have handled before who are not part of the 15. Because at the end of the day they could also be coming in any moment if there's a loss of form or any injury.”

Harsha Bhogle calls Arshdeep Singh’s exclusion a major challenge for Suryakumar Yadav to handle

Additionally, Harsha Bhogle raised another concern about Arshdeep Singh. Even though Arshdeep Singh is one of the world’s best bowlers and was key in India’s 2024 ICC T20 World Cup triumph, the left-arm pacer has been left out of the first game against the UAE.

He mentioned that Suryakumar Yadav prefers to pack the batting order deep and use more wicket-taking options, leaving Arshdeep out of the playing XI. The well-known broadcaster believes that handling such decisions without hurting players is going to be a big test for Suryakumar.

Harsha signed off by saying, “Arshdeep is not playing. You're telling one of the best bowlers in the world, someone who's been very good at the last T20 World Cup, that you have to sit. So, he's got to handle a lot of people to get the balance that he wants.”

Read Also: Sanju Samson out of IND vs PAK match!! India nets clear the picture