Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India, admitted that playing in the Twenty20 International format necessitates being completely ready for the particular demands of that cricket style. For the first time since replacing Rohit Sharma as captain during the 2024 T20 World Cup, he will captain the Indian squad in a major competition.
The batsman, who was born in Mumbai, said he was confident in the squad’s preparations, pointing out that even if they haven’t played T20Is in a while, they have had time to practise and strengthen their camaraderie as a team. On September 10, India will play the hosts, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in the opening match of the regional competition.
“You know how to continue your preparations if you arrive to play this format. You are more confidence when you get onto the pitch if you have done your homework. We have been preparing quite a bit lately, and although I am aware that we haven’t played Twenty20 cricket as a team in a while, we were here [in Dubai, the location for India vs. the United Arab Emirates] three or four days ago. As a team, we enjoyed ourselves a little. During the press conference, Suryakumar Yadav stated, “We are really looking forward to this tournament.”
🗣️ We’ve had good preparations and time together as a team#TeamIndia captain Suryakumar Yadav talks about the importance of preparations ahead of #AsiaCup2025 @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/OsU5HWcLKI
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 9, 2025
For Suryakumar Yadav & Co., aggression is always present.
On September 14, India will play its first match against Pakistan since the Pahalgam incident and the ensuing Operation Sindoor. The captains of both countries stressed the value of directing aggressiveness in a controlled and positive way when questioned about handling it on the pitch.
“When we step onto the pitch, aggression is always present. I don’t believe you can participate in this sport without it. I can’t wait to get on the pitch tomorrow. Every player is unique and knows how to provide their best effort, so you don’t need to say anything to them,” Suryakumar added.
“Anyone is more than welcome to act aggressively on the pitch. Aggression is the lifeblood of fast bowlers in particular; you can’t stop them. Salman Ali Agha, the captain of Pakistan, stated, “I have no restrictions as long as it stays within the spirit of the game.”
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