In a candid interview following India’s T20 World Cup win, captain Suryakumar Yadav opened up about the challenges of leadership, including a difficult decision involving Axar Patel. “It wasn’t easy to talk to Axar after that decision; he was hurt, and understandably so. I went to him and apologized, explaining it was for the team’s interest,” Suryakumar revealed.

Axar Patel, however, showcased immense maturity, ending the tournament with 11 wickets in 8 matches and delivering a match-winning 3-wicket haul in the final. Suryakumar also praised Ishan Kishan, who proved his worth with 317 runs, and lauded Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a “robot” and a “national asset” after his game-changing 4-wicket haul in the final. Having scaled the peak of T20 cricket, Suryakumar stated that the team’s next big ambition is to secure a medal in cricket at the 2028 Olympics.