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Former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has opened up about how Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma influenced his career, highlighting how their approach to fitness and Rohit's leadership style shaped his understanding of the game.
Suryakumar shared his thoughts while speaking to television host Rannvijay Singha on the 42nd episode of the Dubai Journey series on the Mashable Middle East YouTube channel. While Kohli inspired him with his commitment to fitness and training, Rohit taught him the importance of understanding teammates and building strong relationships within a team.
Suryakumar made his international debut in 2021, when Kohli was leading the Indian team. The Mumbai batter recalled making a conscious effort to observe Kohli's training routines and learn from his approach to preparation.
Suryakumar Yadav reveals how Virat Kohli influenced his fitness
When asked about the Indian cricketer he admired for fitness and strength, Suryakumar named Kohli and explained how watching him train helped him understand the standards required at the highest level.
Although he had heard about Kohli's dedication from other players, seeing the former captain in action during training sessions gave him a clearer picture of his work ethic.
"When I made my debut for India in 2021, he was the captain. When I saw him for the first time during a practice session, I had only heard from other players how he carried himself during the session," Suryakumar said.
"When he used to practise, when he used to train, I used to keep my training times with him to see what he was training. He was a completely different beast, and still is," he added.
Suryakumar has established himself as one of India's prominent T20I batters, with his athleticism and fielding ability also standing out. One of his most memorable moments on the field came during the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, when he took a spectacular catch near the boundary to dismiss David Miller at a crucial stage of the match.
Suryakumar Yadav opens up on learning leadership qualities from Rohit Sharma
While Kohli influenced Suryakumar's approach to fitness, Rohit left a lasting impression through his leadership and ability to connect with players.
Suryakumar returned to the Mumbai Indians in 2018, when Rohit was captaining the franchise. The duo shared a successful stint at the IPL team, winning titles in 2019 and 2020, before continuing their association with the Indian team during Rohit's captaincy.
Reflecting on what he learned from Rohit, Suryakumar highlighted the former India skipper's calm demeanour, understanding of players and ability to maintain a relaxed atmosphere within the team.
"Obviously, leadership qualities, because I have played a lot of cricket with him and under him," Suryakumar said.
"How he understands players, carries himself on the field and off the field. Cool, cool and very relaxed. And there is a bit of humour," he added.
The Indian batter also recalled how Rohit would spend time with teammates away from cricket, including taking them out for dinners and coffee. According to Suryakumar, these interactions helped Rohit understand players better and learn what was going through their minds.
Suryakumar explained that a captain's work extends beyond what happens on the field, as understanding individuals is essential to managing a team effectively.
"All these things that you see on the ground are a by-product of what you do off the field. You have to understand each and every player, because if you are playing an individual sport, it is easy because it is all you," he said.
"But when you are playing a team sport, you have to understand what is happening with all the other players as well," he concluded.
