Suryakumar gives false statement about captaincy, says happy for team India

Just as India’s experimental T20 transition is hitting a tipping point on English soil, former captain Suryakumar Yadav has stepped in to decisively quell the raging off-field row.

A viral statement circulating across social media platforms claimed that Suryakumar felt disrespected and was completely left in the dark by the national selectors and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding his sudden omission from the UK tour and the subsequent handing over of the captaincy baton to Shreyas Iyer.

Breaking his silence ahead of India’s crucial must-win third T20I at Trent Bridge, Suryakumar gave a comprehensive, dignified explanation. The 35-year-old rubbished the malicious rumours, and expressed his total commitment to the ongoing generational change, while extending special support to teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

“I am very happy for the team and wish them only the best always,” said Suryakumar.

“I know the boys are giving it their all and they will always have my full support.

The veteran batsman addressed the viral controversy head-on, warning fans and the media not to fall prey to digital fabrication.

“I have also noticed that there is a statement circulating on the internet that has been falsely attributed to me. I want to make it clear that I have not made or authorized any such statement. Please do not believe or share unverified information,” clarified Yadav.

“My support for Indian cricket, my teammates and the game will always speak louder than words falsely attributed to me.” Screengrab by X

The off-field distraction comes at a very tense moment for the traveling Indian side, who currently lead 0-1 in the five-match bilateral series after a heavy defeat at Old Trafford. With the team management rigidly moving away from the old guard and creating a younger, hyper-aggressive plan for the next World Cup cycle, Suryakumar’s proactive intervention is effectively arming the critics with ammunition.

Suryakumar’s removal from the team remains a massive talking point given his colossal impact in the World Cup T20-winning campaign on home soil earlier this year. His tactical versatility shone during that tournament, but he was unable to perform consistently with the bat.

Even as the selectors chart the junior road map, Suryakumar has clearly not raised the white flag on his international career. However, the reality is an incredibly steep mountain to climb. The leading batsman’s pedigree is undisputed as he boasts an impressive record of 3,272 runs in 113 T20Is at an average of 36.35. But at the age of 35 and with the team’s current management heavily locked in an experimental youth cycle, forcing his way back into the scheme of things will be anything but easy. A legendary home run and a completely flawless IPL 2027 season is the bare minimum needed to knock on the door again, although an appeal remains highly unlikely given the situation in the new regime.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

Jul 7, 2026 1:09 PM IST