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Gambhir credits Suryakumar Yadav’s composure for easing coaching pressures during T20 Cup
New Delhi
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has lauded T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav’s calm and player-centric leadership, saying it has significantly eased the pressures of his high-profile role, especially in the shortest format of the game.
Gambhir said India are fortunate to have Suryakumar leading the side in the ongoing T20 World Cup, describing him as a leader who “ticks every box”. The clip did not specify when the interaction took place.
“Surya has made my life a lot easier in this format,” Gambhir said. “He is a phenomenal leader of men. Not just because of what he does on the field or how he bats, but because of how he relates to players, how he speaks to them and how much time he spends with them.”
Gambhir highlighted Suryakumar’s relaxed demeanour as a key asset, particularly in high-pressure situations. “He is so calm on the field that, as a coach, you can focus on many other things knowing the atmosphere in the team is under control. That’s something any coach can dream of,” he added.
India began their World Cup campaign on a winning note on Saturday, defeating the USA after being jolted by an early top-order collapse. Suryakumar played a pivotal role in the recovery, scoring a fluent 84 off 49 balls to steer the team to a competitive total and eventual victory against spirited opposition.
“For me, Surya the player can be kept aside, but Surya the leader has ticked every box,” Gambhir said. “His heart is in the right place and he takes the right decisions, especially under pressure.”
India will face Namibia in their next group match on Thursday. Suryakumar, 35, took over the T20I captaincy weeks after India’s World Cup triumph two years ago, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format.
