Runs will come, but working towards team goal is important: Suryakumar

India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav admitted that his batting form had been problematic and acknowledged that he’s been working really hard.

The middle-order batter also spoke about the team’s combination and preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is set to be hosted by India in 2026.

India are set to take on Australia in five T20Is starting here on Wednesday at the Manuka Oval. While the Indian ODI side failed to win the recently concluded series, the T20I team’s focus will not only be on winning the five-match series but also on finding clarity on their combination as the global tournament approaches.

“I feel like I’ve been working really hard. It’s not that I wasn’t working hard before; I was doing it then, too. I’ve had good sessions back home and a few good ones here, so I am in a good space, which is really important. Runs will come eventually, but working hard towards the team goal is important,” Surya told the media at the press conference.

Surya mentioned that the team started preparing for the World Cup after the Asia Cup and hasn’t been taking any games lightly. He also acknowledged that playing in overseas conditions will be challenging, but added that the team has prepared well to face the challenges, expecting the upcoming series to ‘be a good one.’

“There is not much change in combination, because last time when we went to South Africa, we played with one fast bowler, one all-rounder and three spinners. The conditions are similar, bouncy tracks. Preparation obviously started with the Asia Cup and it will continue like this. We are not looking like we have come to a foreign country to play, so we will approach this series differently.

“It’s a build-up to the World Cup, but at the same time, it’s quite challenging as well, so I am sure it will be a good one. There are always challenging conditions when you go to Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand; there is challenging cricket in all these countries. But how you adapt it and how to play shots, how to make runs, it is non-negotiable at this level,” he added.

Surya also believes that getting a good team combination will be a task for the management, with the Indian side studded with a talented pool of players. However, he feels that it’ll be a ‘good headache.’

“It’s a good headache with so many options, fast bowling, spinners, from top to 7th you can bat anywhere, so it’s a little difficult to explain to those who are not playing.

“But everyone in this team knows the goal, that is to win the match. No matter what the combination is, your goal is to win for India. It is only 11 people who can play, 15 cannot play,” he said.

Australia skipper Mitch Marsh spoke about the team’s newly adopted aggressive approach ahead of their first T20I against India, and said the bold new style had developed organically, driven by the team’s personnel.

Australia’s new strategy in the shortest format will be put to the test by the visitors as the two sides gear up for a five-match T20I series down under.

When the teams start their series here on Wednesday, the venue will be a hostile ground for the hosts, as passionate India supporters are expected to turn a sold-out Manuka Oval into a sea of blue, like they did during the recently concluded final ODI of the three-match series.

Since their dismal second consecutive T20 World Cup exit in 2024, Australia have adopted a more aggressive, quick-scoring approach, leading to 12 wins in their last 13 matches. Marsh has played a crucial role in that success, as his aggressive approach during powerplays at the top of the order has helped lay the groundwork for Australia’s winning streak.

“I think that’s happened quite organically, to be honest, just with the personnel we’ve got in the team. We had two World Cups where we didn’t quite go all the way, and I guess we spoke about wanting to change ourselves as a team to what we think can win us a World Cup. And as a batting unit, we have played a lot more aggressively.

“I think that’s been the nature of T20 cricket for a lot of teams over the last few years. We’re not gonna get it right every time. We will fail. But if we’re clear on how we wanna go about it, that gives us the best chance for success,” Marsh told reporters ahead of the T20I series opener.

However, India presents a more formidable challenge than Australia has encountered since their style change. The visitors have secured 17 wins in their last 19 T20 matches and are heavily favoured to win the forthcoming series and to defend the World Cup title when they hosts it in 2026.

“I know that we’ve got eight games to go for us, and we’re really building nicely with the way we want to play and go about it. We feel great at the moment, but we know there’s going to be a big series coming up,” he added.

Indo-Asian News Service