'Met him before T20 WC': Suryakumar Yadav on Dhoni's advice
What's the story
Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup title, has revealed that he met former skipper MS Dhoni before the tournament. The meeting was a crucial moment for Suryakumar, who helped India become the first team to win the tournament on home soil. "His reaction was amazing. I met him before the tournament," Suryakumar told reporters while recalling his conversation with Dhoni.
Strategic guidance
'Play courageously'
Suryakumar revealed that Dhoni had advised him on how to approach an ICC tournament. "He told me that we have a fantastic team and we just need to play courageously," Suryakumar said, adding that victory would be theirs if they followed this advice. Notably, India won the inaugural T20 World Cup (2007) in Dhoni's leadership. The former skipper also led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy honors.
Tournament stats
Suryakumar's performance in T20 World Cup 2026
In the recently concluded tournament, Suryakumar smashed 242 runs from nine matches at a strike rate of ove 136. His only half-century came against the USA in India's opening fixture. His 84* (49) bailed India out at Wankhede Stadium. At the end, Suryakumar became the third Indian captain to win the T20 World Cup, joining Dhoni (2007) and Rohit Sharma (2024).
Future aspirations
Back-to-back titles and Olympic gold medal aspirations for India
Reflecting on his team's successful campaign, Suryakumar said it felt great to win back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2026. He also looked ahead to the next challenge - winning the Olympic gold medal. "The team has a good momentum. If India wins the T20 World Cup in the same year, it will be great," he said. The Indian skipper is now looking forward to the IPL, starting March 28, before preparing for future challenges like the Olympics.