Former Indian captain opens up about struggles following 2026 World Cup triumph and how he rediscovered his passion for cricket.
Former Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav reflected on the challenging period that followed his team's T20 World Cup triumph in 2026. Speaking at a function held by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to honour the T20 Mumbai League 2026 winners, Suryakumar opened up about the difficulties he faced after leading the country to the World Cup title.
He was candid about his struggles during this phase. He emphasised the importance of honesty with oneself when navigating difficult periods, particularly when responsibilities extend beyond cricket.
"See, post the T20 World Cup win, it has been a little difficult. I don't want to run away from that fact. If you are not honest with yourself, it is very difficult to lead a happy life. So, to be very honest, it has been very difficult," Suryakumar said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Struggles after World Cup triumph
Suryakumar attributed much of his struggle to personal circumstances that coincided with the IPL season. The arrival of his daughter in May 2026 shifted his focus significantly, creating a period of adjustment both on and off the field. He acknowledged that while the months following her birth had been beautiful, the immediate aftermath of the IPL presented considerable challenges.
"During the IPL, I was blessed with a baby girl in May. So, the focus shifted completely towards her. The last few months, since she was born, have been very beautiful. But the first two months after the IPL were difficult," Suryakumar added.
During this challenging phase, Suryakumar turned to his wife Devisha for support and guidance. Through conversations with her, he began to reconnect with the fundamentals that had shaped his early cricket journey. His wife reminded him of the values and passion that had driven him as a young player starting out in Mumbai's age-group cricket system.
"Then I thought, why not go back to thinking about how I was before? How I started my cricket journey, when all I wanted was to play age-group cricket for Mumbai and go on to represent Mumbai in first-class cricket. I sat down and started discussing all these things with my wife. She said the same thing: I think you need to bring back the love and passion for the game that you had when you were a 15-year-old kid who wanted to represent Mumbai in the Under-15 age group," Suryakumar said.
Reconnecting with cricket's fundamentals
Reconnecting with his roots proved transformative for Suryakumar's approach to the game. He adopted a mindset similar to the one that had guided his progression through Mumbai cricket over the previous decade. By focusing on the sport itself rather than external pressures, he found renewed clarity about his goals and responsibilities.
"So that's what I started thinking about. And I am following the same approach now that I did 10-15 years ago — training again and pursuing the same passion and love for the game. Everything is back to normal now. When you start thinking that way and focus on playing the sport, you want to do well for your team and your family. Things change completely. And that's what I am doing right now," Suryakumar said.
Suryakumar emphasised that his primary objective had always been to win matches and championships for Mumbai, not to pursue individual accolades or franchise cricket opportunities. He stressed that young cricketers in Mumbai's maidans aspire first to represent their state, not to play in the IPL.
"The main goal is what I used to think about earlier: win games for Mumbai and win the championship for Mumbai. See, the end goal, or even the first goal, should never be to play in the IPL. Everyone dreams of playing for India. If you ask any kid playing in the maidans of Bombay cricket right now, they will not say, 'I want to play in the IPL.' They will first say, 'I want to play for Mumbai. I want to represent Mumbai at the age-group level. I want to represent Mumbai in first-class cricket. I want to earn that cap, which is really special,'" Suryakumar said.
Suryakumar reflected on his experiences with the Mumbai dressing room over recent years. He noted that whenever he had been given an opportunity to represent the association, positive outcomes had followed. He expressed his eagerness to contribute to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and continue learning from his teammates.
"So that's what I have seen over the last few months, and even the last few years. Whenever I have been part of the Mumbai dressing room, wherever I have got an opportunity — though I didn't get one during this Ranji Trophy season — there have been good times ahead. Going forward, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, there will definitely be a lot of learning. I am still learning a lot of things from all the players," Suryakumar said.
Suryakumar concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the Mumbai Cricket Association. With 16 years of involvement with the association, he expressed his determination to lead the side and pursue the championship title with undiminished hunger and passion.
"So I would be very happy and privileged to spend time with them and play for this association. I have always been around; I have been here for the last 16 years, and that hunger, energy and passion are still there. I would be very happy to carry on, lead this side and win the tournament," Suryakumar said.