Leading the Indian men’s cricket team comes with a weight few in sport truly understand. It is the weight of a nation. Nearly 1.4 billion cricket followers, each carrying hope, belief, and expectation. And yet, at the centre of it all, Suryakumar Yadav shows little sign of being burdened by it.

Before the World Cup, questions followed him closely. Would captaincy affect his batting? Would responsibility take away the freedom that defines his game? Those questions did not linger for long. The New Zealand series at home provided answers, delivered with clarity and confidence.

Beyond the runs, something else stood out. Through good days and difficult ones, Suryakumar’s smile never wavered. It has become a quiet symbol of how he sees leadership. Calm. Open. Grounded.

A different burden, the same pressure

Captaincy in Indian cricket has never been equal across eras. The responsibilities carried by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were arguably heavier. They led established teams, defined eras, and were judged constantly against history.

But pressure does not disappear just because the context is different. Every Indian captain feels it. The scrutiny. The opinions. The constant judgment of every decision.

Suryakumar feels it too, even if it does not always show.

“There is already enough pressure from outside. Oh. I didn’t say that.”

His answer to that pressure lies in preparation and atmosphere.

“See, there is already so much going on the ground. When we are off the field. So I think when we are on the field. We just want to be relaxed, because I feel the preparations – what we do during practice sessions. When we are in the room, I think that sets the tone when you come on the ground.”

Once the game begins, he trusts what has already been done.

“As I have always said, It comes on autopilot when you come on the ground. You have to let your emotions flow and take the best call, what the team needs on that given day.”

Finding calm in a harsh format

T20 cricket leaves little room for error. It can be brutal on bowlers and unforgiving to batters. Suryakumar accepts that reality but chooses not to fight it.

“So, at the same time, and you know, this format is actually very harsh for the bowlers. Sometimes to the batters as well. But you have to be relaxed. Give them company at that time. Make them relaxed. Take their breath back. And just enjoy it.”

For him, leadership is often about sharing moments rather than controlling them.

“You are there as a group for 75–80 minutes on the ground. When you are fielding. So I think that’s the time to have fun on the ground. And then enjoy it.”

Home crowd, added responsibility

India begin their T20 World Cup 2026 title defence against the USA at Mumbai on February 7. Playing at home brings energy and expectation in equal measure.

Suryakumar has felt that connection before.

“See as I said. Playing at home soil is always exciting. I felt that when we played the ODI World Cup in 2023. Crowds came in numbers. People having a chat around when you are travelling in the airport.”

That support fuels motivation, but it also adds responsibility.

“So it’s a good thing. It gives you motivation all the time. But yeah, at the same time, it brings a lot of responsibility also. That you are getting to lead such a wonderful side. That too in India. At home soil.”

The opening game at Wankhede only heightens the feeling.

“Starting at Wankhede. So the boys are very excited. To take the field tomorrow. And I am sure there will be a lot of excitement.”

The pressure is real. It is always for an Indian captain. But Suryakumar Yadav meets it in his own way. With trust in preparation. With belief in people. And with a smile that never seems to leave.

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Kolkata: “You guys said I’ve only had 10 days. When am I supposed to have done?” Mark Watt’s comment, made half in jest, segued into what Gordon Drummond said after Scotland finished nets at Eden Gardens here on Friday. “We had a foot of snow for one period in January, so yeah, it was a bit different.” Getting fit for the T20 World Cup equalled shovelling the driveway. And here they are, one day from taking on two-time champions West Indies.

In 10 days, Scotland players have journeyed from doing nothing at home to playing the ultimate competition in cricket’s shortest format. For Zainullah Ihsan, the feeling of incredulity is even more. The fast bowler had missed the age cut-off for the under-19 World Cup but disappointment turned to delight when he was called up for this. “Suddenly, I am on the big stage,” he said.

A Glaswegian since 2022, the story of the wiry Afghan-born pacer explains why he sets great store by then word kismet. He had only played tape-ball cricket when he was asked to join his brother’s friends for a knockabout. Membership to GHK Cricket Club followed and after six wickets in the four remaining matches of the season, his career graph has only gone north.

“I took 21 wickets in 12-13 matches next season,” Ihsan said in Hindi. “This year, I took 27. I have played for the A team but never for the senior team. I didn’t know what to say when the coach called to tell me that I was in, so I said ‘thank you.’”

Scotland’s late entry into the competition is well-thumbed: they are in because Bangladesh pulled out after their wish to move matches to Colombo was denied. Cue a lot of WhatsApp messages getting sent around, said Watt, a left-arm spinner who starred in the 42-run win against West Indies in the 2022 iteration.

Drummond was in Zimbabwe for the under-19 World Cup. Tom Bruce came from New Zealand and while no player was on holiday, some had just returned from downtime in December and begun training, said Drummond.

Last-minute entries into a major competition have their own challenges. Scotland had a week in Bengaluru to get ready. In 1992, Denmark had five days after Yugoslavia were sent home from the European Championships football competition in Sweden because of war in the Balkans. Like Scotland who finished behind Netherland, Italy and Jersey in the European qualifiers, Denmark had not qualified. Unlike them, it was reason enough for many players to hit the beach.

Denmark players took a ferry to Sweden and trained. “It was nothing like a normal preparation for a tournament. It was relaxed and informal, I called it the National Lampoon training camp. And, frankly, we all thought it was going to be three defeats,” Henrik Larsen, who scored three goals and shared the golden boot with Tomas Brolin, Dennis Bergkamp and Karl-Heinz Riedle, told the Guardian in 2021.

Larsen started the tournament on the bench getting his chance only because Kim Vilfort had to be with his daughter who was battling from leukemia. On June 11, Denmark played England. Fifteen days later, and without the inspirational Michael Laudrup who had quit the national team owing to differences with head coach Richard Moeller Nielsen, they were champions of Europe.

The Danes swum, played golf, ate burgers and downed beers while Germany, their opponents in the final, had only milk, said Larsen. Fast forward to 2026 and Watt said: “Having a break from the game is a good thing. Sometimes you can overthink too much: ‘Oh, we’re playing against England, we’re playing against West Indies, all these thoughts and ideas come into your head. Sometimes, it’s actually quite refreshing to go away and not really think too much about it. And then, we’ll take it head on when it comes.”

Watt said instead of watching videos of the ball sailing for sixes –“not the most encouraging sight for a spinner” – he spoke to Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan to find out the best way to bowl here.

Denmark and Abebe Bikila, who won the marathon in the 1960 Olympics running barefoot because the new shoes caused blisters, and Andy Ruiz Jr who defied 11-1 odds to beat Anthony Joshua for the heavyweight boxing title in 2019, will be the gold standard for last-minute entries to emulate.

Watt’s thoughts on them could not be obtained but he did throw down the gauntlet. “I don’t think teams will take us lightly. You know, we’ve caused a few upsets in the past.”

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Photo by @BCCI on X)

NEW DELHI: Teen cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the show in India’s U-19 World Cup final on Friday, smashing a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls to guide India to a 100-run win over England and a record-extending sixth title. After the match, he dedicated his Player of the Final award to the team’s support staff.“I can’t express what I am feeling but the way we have all been working hard for the last 7-8 months and our support staff who have been with us for a long time and always made sure we are alright, I would like to dedicate the award to them,” Sooryavanshi said.

“For the last eight to nine months, the support staff and the team have been working together. That preparation has played a huge role in getting us to where we are today.”The 14-year-old became the first player in U-19 World Cup history to win both the Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament awards. His innings included 15 sixes and 15 fours, and he reached the fastest 150 in Under-19 cricket in just 71 balls, propelling India to a commanding 411 for 9 after winning the toss.England fought valiantly, with Caleb Falconer scoring a 115 off 67 balls, but regular wickets prevented them from keeping up with the required rate. They were eventually bowled out for 311, handing India a dominant victory.Sooryavanshi, who had already made waves in last year’s Indian Premier League, now holds the record for the highest individual score in any ICC tournament final, further cementing his reputation as one of cricket’s brightest young talents.This remarkable performance not only secured India’s sixth U-19 World Cup title but also showcased the impact of preparation, teamwork, and raw talent on the world stage.