As the cricketing world gears up for the 2026 T20 World Cup, former captain Rohit Sharma has shared his insights on Team India and current skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Rohit, who famously led India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024, believes the team is in safe hands but emphasised the importance of form.
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Speaking on the impact of the captain’s performance, Rohit Sharma said: "A captain in form makes a big difference. But I see it differently. It's not just about the captain. If a key player like Surya is out of form, you lose out on one of your 7-8 batters. That weakens the whole lineup. Surya is a big player who has done well for India consistently. If his performance drops, it hurts the team."
Rohit highlighted Surya’s unique ability to unsettle opponents: "This isn't about the individual; it's about the batting order. Surya bats at a high strike rate and plays unorthodox shots that disrupt the plans of the opposition. He hits balls in unexpected places and plays shots that others can't."
Rohit Sharma added that this unpredictability is a massive asset: "That puts pressure on the bowler, making them think, 'What do I do now?, How can I tackle him?' When a player like Surya is in form, it makes the whole team stronger, not just because of his confidence, but because of what he brings to the game."
Reflecting on their shared history in the IPL and national side, Rohit Sharma praised Surya’s cricketing intelligence: "Suryakumar Yadav understands the game very well. We played a lot of IPL matches together. Whenever I talked to him about different situations, his responses always made sense. I judge people like that. I don't expect them to say what I think, but their answer should make sense."
Rohit is confident in the squad's ability to handle the upcoming pressure: "With Surya, it always does. He has great understanding and knows how to get the best from players around him. In the T20 World Cup, there will be tricky moments where we must be careful. It will be a test, but all these guys have played high-pressure games before. They should be able to handle it."
Rohit Sharma also lauded young talent Abhishek Sharma, whose aggressive starts have been crucial for India: "I like how Abhishek Sharma is batting. He doesn't just swing hard; his approach is smart and calculated. He plays shots all around, from extra cover to mid-wicket. He's a 180-degree batter who can clear fine leg if you bowl at his body. He's become a very good player, scoring quickly and consistently. For an opener, impact matters more than just runs."
Rohit Sharma concluded with simple advice for the team's hitters: "Giving your team 50-60 runs in the first few overs does half the job; it lets others build on it. To take on bowlers, you have to do your homework and practice those shots in the nets every day. It's that simple."
