Suryakumar Yadav batting during the 2024 T20 World Cup (Image Credits: Getty Images)
Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir once stated that he regretted not being able to utilize the full potential of Suryakumar Yadav when he was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain. Gambhir opined that Suryakumar could have been a lot more effective for KKR at No. 3 in the IPL, but added that the team combination at that point did not allow them to do so.
Suryakumar represented Kolkata Knight Riders from 2014 to 2017. Since then, he has been a crucial member of the Mumbai Indians (MI) outfit in the IPL. The 33-year-old, however, has reunited with his former KKR captain as Gambhir has been appointed the new head coach of the Indian men’s team. As for Suryakumar, he is leading the T20I team in Sri Lanka.
Speaking on Sportskeeda’s Match Ki Baat in May, Gambhir admitted that he regrets not tapping the full potential of Suryakumar when he was KKR captain.
“A leader’s biggest role is to bring out the best in a player. In my seven-year captaincy stint, if there is one regret that I have, it is the fact that we couldn’t utilize the full potential of Surya. There were many reasons for it – the combination, etc. But, you can only play one batter at No. 3. As a leader, you think about the other 10 players as well,” India’s head coach said while speaking on the show.
“If Surya had batted at No. 3, he would have been a lot more effective, but he was effective at No. 7 as well,” he added.
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Since making his debut for India in 2021, Suryakumar has gone on to establish himself as one of the top T20I batters in world cricket. In 68 matches, he has hammered 2340 runs at an average of 43.33 and a strike rate of 167.74, with four hundreds and 19 fifties.
Suryakumar’s cheeky response on being told about Gambhir’s regret
At a pre-match press conference ahead of the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Suryakumar was informed about the new head coach’s ‘regret’ by a journalist. On hearing this, he cheekily replied:
“To abhi karlenge pura potential ko use (Let him utilize the full potential now).”
On a serious note, the T20I skipper hailed the former India batter, while also opening up on his equation with the coach.
“Even when I say nothing sometimes, he understands what I want. So this bond is very special between coach and captain. I am very excited for this journey ahead,” the Indian T20I skipper said.
Team India will play three T20Is against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on July 27, July 28, and July 30.
