Suryakumar Yadav of India during the ICC Men’s T20 India vs Sri Lanka 2026 net session at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 7, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)
TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: In any final, the result usually depends on how the team handles the pressure. Heart rates are above normal ranges and even the best in the business are feeling the heat of the moment. Add to that the subtext of playing at a venue that carries the ghosts of the World Cup past. Almost 1,00,000 people in the stands, coloring the venue blue, facilitate the situation and the occasion.“Pressure” was an oft-repeated word when India captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed the media on the eve of the T20 World Cup final. Surya was part of the eleven that suffered heartbreak at the hands of Australia in the ODI World Cup final on 19 November 2023. Like most of his bandmates, he would have felt the eerie silence of the crowd when Pat Cummins & Co. stunned the hosts in the title race.
T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav press conference ahead of IND vs NZ
Ahead of Sunday’s final, the silence and noise of the crowd was discussed again, but Surya chose to play down the chatter. Acknowledging the challenges, pressure and excitement that comes with finals, his message to the team was simple: be brave.“We have prepared really well for this stage. It started two years ago and its journey and circle again to the same stadium from where we left in 2023. Let’s hope we play good cricket, be brave in difficult situations. That’s a simple message for the team,” said Surya.Easier said than done. While the group discussed embracing the pressure rather than dealing with it, only tough cookies can stand the test of opportunities like these. Over the past few months, Surya noted that giving the group a free hand worked wonders, rather than restricting them with over-communication. The captain is aware that everyone needs a different approach, but the success rate was really high whenever they were “set free”.As the captain and bearer of forgettable memories of “November Past”, the stakes are probably higher for Surya, but he looks on the bright side. The pressure and nervousness are there, but also the excitement and the special feeling of playing and leading the team in the final at home.“These guys don’t let me talk much in the dressing room – at all. These guys dictate their terms. So I saw that when they get freedom, they become a different character on the ground. I noticed that when I started leading this team from 5-6 months. Then I understood that nothing will happen by being a big brother or a father. They must be left to their own devices. They can only hold their ears. Nothing will happen if they stick on the ears. “There will definitely be pressure on me as a leader. I’m not saying there won’t be any pressure and I won’t be nervous, because if I’m not under pressure and if I’m not nervous, how can I get the best out of myself and of course the team. So there will definitely be more pressure, but at the same time there’s a lot of excitement because you don’t have a chance to play in this cup in a final like this.” Surya.For Surya the player and Surya the captain, this is his biggest moment under the sun. The numerous IPL finals, titles and bilateral wins and even the Asia Cup do not matter. What matters is how the team fares on the big night in Ahmedabad. When he steps out and chews gum at the Narendra Modi Stadium, it all boils down to how he handles the P-word and how he can maintain clear decision-making while taking tough challenges in the middle, both while batting and during his captaincy.
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He has coach Gautam Gambhir in his corner, who according to the captain can bowl and bat well and together the duo have a chance to make history. The only team to defend their T20 World Cup title and win the T20 World Cup at home is just one win away and that win would also secure coach Gambhir’s second ICC title in as many attempts. Too many critical firsts separate this big win. A win would put Ahmedabad on the cricketing map with a memorable event in favor of the hosts, somewhat diminishing the ghosts of the past on November 19.“Will he go?? (will it happen?),” asked Surya Rohit at the Wankhede ahead of the semi-final. The former captain responded with an assurance.“If we play well, it will happen,” Surya said on Saturday with a smile carrying the confidence of his former captain and the entire campaign.
