Former India coach Ravi Shastri has pinpointed a crucial skill that Suryakumaradav needs to master swiftly if he aims to succeed in his new position as India’s T20I captain.
Suryakumar recently emerged from a strong field of candidates when he was named as Rohit Sharma’s replacement as India’s T20I captain. He will soon have the opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities with the team set to play a three-match series against Sri Lanka on their home turf.
Shastri is confident that Suryakumar can thrive in this role, but cautions the 33-year-old about the necessity of quickly learning how to manage India’s diverse bowling lineup.
In a conversation with host Sanjana Ganesan on a recent episode of The ICC Review, Shastri emphasized that understanding the strengths and weaknesses of his bowlers—along with how to position the field for each one—will be the biggest challenge for the new captain.
“He needs to learn about the strengths and limitations of his bowlers,” Shastri reflected.
“I never refer to a bowler as having a weakness; I call it a limitation, alongside their strengths. It’s important to concentrate on the right aspects and set fields accordingly. That’s an essential lesson for him.”
Suryakumar has prior captaincy experience, having led India in T20I series against Australia at home and South Africa away after last year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup during Rohit’s absence. He has also occasionally taken charge at the domestic level for Mumbai.
Shastri believes Suryakumar can thrive as India’s T20I captain and anticipates that he will channel his explosive batting talents into his new leadership role.
“We know he is clever and astute… he’s among the top T20 players globally right now,” Shastri stated.
“He has the ability to win matches on his own, consistently making the team not only because of his skills but also through his own efforts in this format. So, I believe this isn’t a poor choice at all.
“I think his approach to captaincy will align closely with his personality and style of play. He’s quick in his thinking, and given his familiarity with all the players, even the veterans, he is likely to be well-equipped to lead the team.”
