Suryakumar Yadav, India’s new T20I captain, has faced his share of controversies, the most notable being his resignation as captain of the Mumbai state team in 2015. At 33, Yadav steps into the T20I captaincy role following Rohit Sharma’s retirement post-India’s T20 World Cup triumph. Yadav has previously led Mumbai in various formats and age-group levels, including a notable stint as captain during the 2014 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Abrupt End to Captaincy
At 33, Yadav takes over T20I leadership from Rohit Sharma, following Sharma’s retirement post-India’s T20 World Cup victory. Before this, Yadav had a notable captaincy stint, leading Mumbai in 24 T20 matches with 16 wins and previously captaining at various age-group levels and tour games.
However, his leadership journey hit a snag in 2015. After an initial period of promising performance, Yadav’s tenure as Mumbai’s captain ended abruptly. He led the team in just six games during the 2014/15 Ranji Trophy season, managing only one victory against Uttar Pradesh. Mumbai ended the season in sixth place, suffering a crushing innings defeat to Tamil Nadu, their worst loss since 1951.
Issues Off the Field
Yadav’s resignation came amid allegations of poor team performance and disciplinary issues. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) reprimanded him for using abusive language both on the field and in the dressing room. Reports also emerged of a public altercation with teammate Shardul Thakur during a Ranji game against Madhya Pradesh, which reportedly contributed to a tense dressing room environment.
The MCA received a report from Mumbai’s manager, Shrikant Tigdi, detailing Yadav’s disciplinary problems, which likely influenced the decision to replace him with Aditya Tare. Tare was seen as a better man-manager by the MCA.
A Troubled Past
Yadav, known for his fiery temperament in his younger days, had a history of disciplinary issues. During his captaincy of the Mumbai Under-25 team, he was involved in a fistfight with teammate Siddhesh Lad and was later reported to have damaged a glass wall at the MCA’s BKC facility. On both occasions, Yadav was let off with a warning from MCA vice-president Ravi Savant.
In 2017, a Twitter retweet caused further trouble. After being left out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy due to disciplinary issues, Yadav retweeted a comment criticizing the selectors for not including opener Jay Bista. This led to more controversy, resulting in Yadav being asked to explain his actions to the MCA. He later issued an unconditional apology, which allowed him to be reconsidered for selection.
Despite these past controversies, Yadav’s career has continued to flourish, culminating in his role as India’s T20I captain. His journey reflects a mix of talent and challenges, highlighting the complexities of leadership in professional sports.