Suryakumar Yadav, right, holds the T20 World Cup trophy as he celebrates with his wife Devisha (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: India’s World T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav has revealed how a simple but “brutally honest” question from his wife Devisha in 2018 became a turning point in his career and made him pursue his long-held dream of playing for the country.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Suryakumar said the interview came at a time when his career was stable but lacking direction. “We got married in 2016 when I was still playing for KKR. Everything went very smoothly. I was playing well, I was enjoying it,” he recalled of the moment during a podcast with PTI. “But in 2018, she asked me – “Many players of your age group are playing for India, what do you mean?” I said, ‘Mujhe bhi India khelna hai.’ Then she asked, ‘Kaise kheloge?'”
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This question, he admits, forced him to introspect. “It wasn’t an argument, it was a discussion about how to go one step further. If I want to play for India and win matches, how do I do that?” he said, describing it as a defining moment.A series of disciplined lifestyle changes followed. “We had to cut back on a lot of things – diet, friend circles, weekends. We treated it as a Monday-Friday job,” explained Suryakumar. The results were immediate. A prolific IPL 2018 season, followed by consistent performances in 2019 and 2020, eventually led to his India debut in 2021.Suryakumar identified Devisha as a constant pillar of support who shaped his thinking off the field. “She was a big influence behind the scenes, she told me honest things. Sometimes it was brutal, but it helped. If I’m where I am today, those conversations have gone a long way,” he said.Importantly, her leadership extended beyond cricket. “She didn’t give advice about cricket, but she helped me in life – how to approach situations and behave,” he added. She also made sure he stayed grounded. “You’re not Suryakumar Yadav at home. Leave cricket out. Stay humble – even little things like holding your plate in the sink matter.”
