Suryakumar happy to have ‘old mate’ Gautam as head coach as he embraces T20I captaincy - WATCH

Ace batter Suryakumar Yadav is ready for his T20I captaincy debut against Sri Lanka, but more than that, he’s happy to have his ‘old mate’ Gautam Gambhir in the dressing room as the new India head coach. Suryakumar and Gautam have been bonding since SKY’s early days in Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL when GG was the captain. With both ready to begin their new stints, Suryakumar said he islooking forward to working with Gambhir.

Ahead of the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday (July 26), Suryakumar spoke publiclyfor the first time since his unexpected appointment.

Talking exclusively to BCCI.tv, SKY said he’s learned a lot about leadership by playing under various captains and cannot wait to get on the field and make the most of his chance.

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“I have always enjoyed being a leader on the field even though I was not the captain. I have always learnt a lot of things from different captains. It’s a good feeling and a great responsibility,” the swashbuckling battersaid.

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Having played under Gautam, who replaced Rahul Dravid as Team India’s new head coach, in IPL 2014, Suryakumar calls his relationship with Gambhir ‘special’. He added that both of them know about each other’s working styles, eventually helping SKY to become the captain his coach and the selectors have picked him for.

“This relationship is special because, in 2014, I played under him in KKR. It was special because from there only I got opportunities. The relationship is still strong.

“He (Gambhir) knows how I work, and what is my mindset when I come to practice sessions. I also know how he tries to work as a coach. It’s all about the lovely relationship we have, and very excited to see how it goes forward,” Suryakumar continued.

Staying grounded is the key

Suryakumar Yadav has played cricket long enough to know how important it is to remain grounded and continue working for betterment, speaking on the same lines as he gears up for a new challenge.

“I think the most important thing that I have learned from this sport is how humble you are after achieving or even after not doing well. I have learned when you do something on the ground, you have to leave it on the ground,” he said.

“This is not your life, this is just a part of your life. So you can’t be when you are doing well, you stay on the top, and when you are not doing well, you are underground.

“That’s one thing which you shouldn’t do ever as a sportsman, that’s one thing which I have learned, and that’s what helps me create balance in my life. If you are a good person, everything happens good,” SKY concluded.

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(With inputs from agencies)