Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed that he always considered a regret in his cricketing journey is never getting to play under the great MS Dhoni. The 35-year-old said at an event in Hyderabad, saying that Dhoni, even from afar, had always made a strong impression on him because of the calmness in his approach and awareness of the game.
Having made his international debut in 2021 under Virat Kohli, Suryakumar quickly climbed up the ranks to become the captain of the Indian T20I team. He then went on to capture the Asia Cup in 2025 under his leadership and added yet another feather in his already decorated career. However, he confessed that missing the opportunity to play under the guidance of Dhoni remained one of the biggest "what ifs" of his cricketing life.
Suryakumar Yadav reflected on learning from the legends
Speaking on his admiration for Dhoni, Suryakumar said, “I always wanted to get an opportunity when he was the captain of India. But I never got it. I saw him behind the stumps whenever I played against him. He has been very cool. One thing that I have learned from him is to stay relaxed in all pressure situations. He looks around, understands what’s happening, and then takes a call.”
Having faced Dhoni multiple times in the IPL, Suryakumar admitted that playing under “Captain Cool” for India would have been a dream come true. He also spoke about his experiences under other Indian leaders, praising Virat Kohli’s intensity and Rohit Sharma’s composed, team-first leadership. “Virat Bhai is a hard taskmaster; he pushes your limits and brings the best out of you,” SKY noted.
During Rohit's time as captain, Suryakumar excelled for both the Mumbai Indians and the India team. He played an instrumental role in India winning the 2024 T20 World Cup at Barbados, while his eye-catching catch in the final, against South Africa, was a key moment in the country's title-winning campaign.
