For almost two months, Suryakumar Yadav found himself in a state of uncertainty. After being removed as the captain of the T20I team and dropped from the squad, he spent around 40 to 50 days at home, coming to terms with a sudden change in his cricketing career. Shocked and confused, Suryakumar even began to question whether he should continue playing the sport he loved.
In a recent chat with former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra, he opened up about his struggles during that time. “For those 40 or 50 days, I was just at home, shocked and uncertain. I kept asking myself, ‘What should I do now? Should I keep playing, or should I not?’ There were many thoughts racing through my mind,” he shared.
During this challenging period, it was his wife, Devisha Shetty, who reminded him of his initial love for cricket. “One day, she said to me, ‘Think about why you started playing cricket when you were just a kid. You had so much passion for the game,’ and it struck a chord,” he recalled. She encouraged him to reconnect with that passion he had felt as a young boy.
The timing of his challenges was particularly tough. Under his leadership, India had enjoyed remarkable success in T20 cricket, winning the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup, remaining unbeaten in bilateral series. He had expected to continue as captain for a longer time. However, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, decided to hand the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer, leaving Suryakumar out of the T20I fold entirely. Since leading India to World Cup victory in March, he hadn’t played.
“I knew I still had a passion for cricket, but I was unsure about my future. Everything looked unclear, and nothing made sense to me,” he mentioned. His wife, however, offered a different perspective. She encouraged him to reflect on his accomplishments over the past five years, including leading India in five World Cups, winning two ICC T20 Player of the Year awards, and earning the No. 1 T20I ranking, along with making memorable plays in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“Not everyone gets to achieve what you have in just five years,” she reminded him.
It took a little while for her words to resonate with him, but gradually, her support helped reignite his enthusiasm. Suryakumar returned to the gym, started playing tennis-ball and rubber-ball cricket, and enjoyed quality time with friends. Slowly but surely, his motivation resurfaced.
“A couple of weeks ago, I felt that drive return. Seeing my daughter every day made me realize I need to play not just for myself but for her too,” he reflected.
Now, Suryakumar is back in training and swinging the bat with confidence. He is focused on his future in T20 cricket, aiming to make a strong impression during the upcoming domestic season to catch the selectors’ attention again.
“At 35, I feel I have a few more years to give. I want to play with the same passion I always have,” he said. While the future remains uncertain, Suryakumar is grateful to have rediscovered the love for the game that he thought he had lost.
“That passion is back, along with my focus and discipline. I feel I’m back on the right track,” he concluded.
