We'll Play 14 IPL Games - Suryakumar Yadav Reacts To Lack Of T20Is Before T20 WC 2024

India National Cricket Team skipper Suryakumar Yadav is not worried about the lack of T20I matches in the lead-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the players will be playing an entire season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) before the marquee tournament.

India recently fielded a second-string squad in the five-match T20I series against Australia and the Men In Blue won by 4-1. The next T20I assignments of India before the World Cup are the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa and Afghanistan.

The three-match T20I series between India and South Africa will be played on December 10, 12 and 14 in Durban, Gqeberha and Johannesburg. While the three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan is set to be played on January 11, 14, and 17 in Mohali, Indore, and Bengaluru.

Suryakumar Yadav attended a pre-match press conference ahead of the South Africa T20Is and said that they will be getting enough 20-over matches in the build-up to the World Cup.

“I feel there are limited T20s going forward, before the T20 World Cup, but then we play 14 league games in the IPL as well. And players who have been playing in these T20 internationals… they’ve played a lot of games, and they have a lot of experience under their belt,” he said.

We don’t think there will be an issue – Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav added that he doesn’t think that the lack of T20I matches is an issue ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 as the players in the team know their roles very well.

“So, we don’t think there will be an issue or any problem in selecting the squad because everyone knows their roles really well and responsibilities really well – [like] how to play in different situations,” he said.

Suryakumar Yadav gave the example of Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma who have been clear role in the team, which is to finish the matches. The Indian skipper mentioned that both Rinku and Jitesh are assigned the same roles by their IPL franchise and domestic teams.

“See, the number Rinku and Jitesh have been batting at, at the IPL and for their state teams, is the same number they are being given an opportunity here. And they are being told to do the same thing they do for their states and their franchises; [it’s] nothing different. That’s what they have done too; whenever we were in trouble in the T20 series [versus Australia], they showed a lot of character,” Suryakumar Yadav said.