'Never got it': Suryakumar Yadav reveals his biggest regret
What's the story
India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has revealed that he regrets not having the chance to play under MS Dhoni's captaincy for the national team. The 35-year-old cricketer, who made his international debut in 2021 under Virat Kohli's leadership, shared his experiences of playing under different Indian captains while reflecting on his journey from domestic cricket to leading the national T20 side.
Staement
SKY wanted to play under Dhoni
"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," Suryakumar said during JITO Connect 2025. SKY further revealed how Dhoni's calm demenor inspired him to stay relaxed in all pressure situations. "He has been very cool. One thing that I have learned from him when I played against him is to stay relaxed."
Long wait
From domestic to international cricket
Suryakumar's journey to international cricket was a long one, having started his domestic career with Mumbai in 2010. However, it took him over a decade to make his international debut. He made his debut under Kohli's captaincy against England in Ahmedabad in 2021 but didn't get a chance to bat in his first match.
Leadership insights
On Kohli's captaincy and Rohit's leadership
Speaking about Kohli's leadership style, Suryakumar said he was a "hard task master" who pushed players to their limits. "He has been very cool. One thing that I have learned from him when I played against him is to stay relaxed," said SKY. Suryakumar also praised Rohit Sharma for being an inclusive leader who made everyone comfortable around him. "He is someone who gets everyone comfortable around them, an inspiration to all youngsters. His door was open 24/7 for everyone.".
Captaincy journey
Suryakumar's captaincy and Asia Cup triumph
Suryakumar's performances and consistency eventually earned him the T20I captaincy, succeeding Rohit Sharma. His journey from a domestic cricket player to leading the national side in T20Is is a testament to his growth in Indian cricket. Under his captaincy, India recently won the Asia Cup in Dubai, a major milestone in his leadership career.