Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav credited timely advice from his wife for helping him rediscover his touch and end a long wait for a half-century, as India cruised to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the second T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Friday.
Suryakumar’s fluent knock marked his first fifty in 468 days and played a key role in India taking a 2-0 lead in the series. In a video shared by the BCCI on Saturday, Player-of-the-Match Ishan Kishan quizzed the skipper about his cautious start, referencing talk around a lean patch.
“They’ve been calling it a lean patch. As a sportsman, I feel that those who play cricket are aware of the capabilities of the batters. I didn’t think it’d be a big deal for you. Was that playing on your mind?” Kishan asked.
Suryakumar replied by pointing to the influence of his wife, explaining how her perspective helped him reset his approach at the crease. “We all have a coach at home, the one you are married to. She keeps telling me to take some time. She has seen it all and can read my mind really well. So I took her advice and played carefully at the start. I took it in the last game, and in this match also.”
The 35-year-old also reflected on how a three-week break away from competitive cricket allowed him to regain mental clarity. He revealed that stepping back from social media played a significant role in putting him in the right headspace ahead of the series.
“I’ve been telling everyone that I was doing well in the nets. But until you score in the matches, you don’t feel that confidence. I utilised the 2-3 week gap very well, went home, cut off social media, and practised, which put me in a good mental space. Cricket is a great leveller. It’s important to have humility,” Suryakumar said.
During the conversation, the Indian skipper also touched upon the team’s batting depth, lightly addressing the perception that India’s success hinges solely on Abhishek Sharma’s performances. While acknowledging Abhishek’s impact, Suryakumar stressed the importance of collective contributions.
“I also wanted to put an end to the perception that India wins only when Abhishek scores runs. If Ishan scores, then we can win matches. However, Abhishek is one of my favourite batters. I want him to keep scoring in every match. Cricket is a team game; you win when all eleven players contribute,” he said.
Suryakumar underlined his return to form with a blistering 82 off just 32 deliveries against the Blackcaps, an innings laced with nine fours and four sixes, as India wrapped up another comfortable victory.