THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hardik Pandya may be India’s designated T20 captain but injury to the star allrounder has meant that Suryakumar Yadav has been leading India in the five-match T20I series against Australia.
Happily for India, Surya’s leadership skills in the first two matches have won him admirers. Surya has shown that he is brave enough to bowl his spinners in the Powerplay and there has been a method to his bowling changes and field placements.
2nd T20I: India's power-packed stat attack against Australia
After southpaw Tilak Varma praised Surya’s captaincy the other day, it was the turn of seamer Prasidh Krishna to follow suit. “I think it shows in the way he (Surya) bats. Very similar in the way in captaincy as well. He trusts his players and backs us to do what we want to do. And he is there right behind us, supporting us if anything goes wrong,” said Prasidh.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hit a blazing half-century here in the second T20I, revealed that the captain and the coach have asked him to play ‘fearless’ cricket. “I have been told by Surya bhai and VVS sir to go and play freely. I have been asked to express myself,” said Jaiswal.
2nd T20I: India's power-packed stat attack against Australia
Suryakumar himself bats with a lot of freedom and seems to have given that liberty to teammates as well. “That’s the word around, freedom. Go and execute your plans out there and everyone trusts each other in the team,” added Prasidh.
With Hardik’s fitness being always a matter of concern, Surya, with his leadership skills in the shortest format, has shown the selectors that he is ready to take over if the need arises.