Suryakumar Yadav openly reminds Rohit Sharma of his Test aspirations after New Zealand whitewash

Suryakumar Yadav's journey in Indian cricket has reached new heights with his rise to T20I captaincy following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the shortest format after they won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and Caribbean in June.

His journey as full-time T20I captain of Team India began with commanding 3-0 series victories over both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Now, the star batter is all set for his third assignment.

Suryakumar Yadav expresses ambitions for Test comeback

Suryakumar Yadav is all set to captain India in the upcoming four-match T20I series in South Africa. However, his ambitions are not limited to white-ball cricket. The explosive right-hander remains determined to make a comeback in Test cricket.

He felt his aggressive yet strategic approach could make an impact on the Indian cricket team. Suryakumar Yadav’s passion for the traditional format of the game is evident, as he doesn’t want to miss a single domestic match across formats.

Read Also: Ruturaj Gaikwad out of India's T20 plans forever? Captain Suryakumar Yadav responds

He has played only one Test match for India so far, and since then he couldn’t make a comeback to the format. His only Test appearance came against Australia in Nagpur in 2023, where he was quickly dismissed by Nathan Lyon for just eight runs.

However, Suryakumar was named as a reserve player in the WTC final last year but could not yet get the chance to re-sport the Whites. Now, he is currently preparing to lead Team India on South African soil in the four-match T20I series.

If a Test comeback is meant to happen, it will: Suryakumar Yadav

Ahead of the first T20I match on Friday, the 34-year-old star said that he is destined for a return to India’s Test squad when the time comes. Yadav also insisted that he is determined to prove that he’s more than a T20 powerhouse, saying he wants to play every format of the game for India.

Suryakumar Yadav said on the eve of the first T20I against South Africa in Durban on November 8 in the pre-match presser: “When the time comes, I will make a Test comeback. I am playing in all domestic competitions, be it red-ball or white-ball and I don't miss any games. If a Test comeback is meant to happen, it will.”

Suryakumar Yadav shares his take on Rohit Sharma's Test struggles

India’s T20I captain also shared his views on Rohit Sharma’s recent struggles in Test cricket. Defending the Indian skipper in Tests and ODIs, Suryakumar has stressed that Rohit Sharma’s real strength isn’t measured solely by runs or records but by his unshakable character that remains changed whether he’s dominating on the pitch or facing a rough patch.

Read Also: Kapil Dev jumps in the Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma debate; claims this about their future

Suryakumar suggested that this enduring resilience is what every athlete should have. He added that this trait separates Rohit Sharma from the rest, which allows him to stay grounded in victory and return stronger from setbacks.

He signed off by saying, “In sports, winning and losing are common. Everyone works hard; everyone wants to win. For me, the most important thing in life is balance. Whether Rohit is performing well or not, his character remains unchanged. That is a quality I believe every sportsman should have.”