“He wanted to be in the fight”: Rohit Sharma hails Suryakumar Yadav after his sacking from T20I captaincy

Rohit Sharma has come out in support of Suryakumar Yadav after the batter was dropped from India’s T20I team and sacked from the captaincy, saying that nothing came easy for the 35-year-old batter. Speaking on the sidelines of the T20 Mumbai League, Rohit recalled Suryakumar’s journey to the top, highlighting the qualities that helped him break into the national team and eventually led the Men in Blue to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 triumph.

“Nothing came easily for Surya,’ Rohit said.

“He played his international match at 30 or 31. It shows he never gave up and wanted to be in the fight. When opportunities came, he grabbed with both hands,” Rohit added.

The legendary batter commented after India’s selection committee named Shreyas Iyer as the team’s new captain in the shortest format of the game for the upcoming series against Ireland and England. SKY was also left out of the side as India starts planning for the 2028 T20 World Cup and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Suryakumar’s omission ended a remarkable chapter in the history of Indian cricket. Since his debut in 2021, Yadav scored 3,272 runs in 113 matches at an average of 36.35 and a strike-rate of 162.94, including 4 hundreds and 25 fifties. He was one of the destructive batters during his prime.

After Rohit retired from T20I following India’s success in the 2024 World Cup, SKY was handed the captaincy by the BCCI and the selectors. India won every bilateral series under his leadership before becoming the first team to defend its global title.

Rohit also backed  Shreyas Iyer to succeed as India’s T20I skipper. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024, while the Delhi Capitals and the Punjab Kings made it to the final under his leadership.

“He is going to have a good time as India’s captain, considering the way he has been leading in the IPL. Playing and representing Mumbai teaches you a lot of things. Players who have played for Mumbai and led Mumbai in the past will tell you the same things,” Rohit explained.

“Nothing comes easy, and you have to earn it. You have to earn respect from the people around you. That is something all the captains have in common.”

Rohit hailed the competition level in the T20 Mumbai League, saying the tournament produces talent for Indian cricket.

The competition has provided a platform for the young players to express themselves. “The talent we are seeing is unreal. It is the platform for the players to come out and show their talent. It is the perfect opportunity for the players who are taking part in it.”

Rohit’s remarks were a tribute to Suryakumar Yadav, who was spot on as a captain. For Shreyas Iyer, it is the start of a new journey.