In a candid session at Express Adda held in Mumbai, Suryakumar Yadav paused to reflect on his career, the evolving Indian cricket landscape and what drives him at age 35. His key message: age is just a number. If you are performing and fit, you determine how long you want to play.
Key Highlights from the Session
1. On Age and Performance
Suryakumar emphasised that if a player continues to score and meet team expectations, age should not define their career span. He referenced veteran bowler James Anderson—in his early 40s—renewing his contract, as proof. “If you are doing well… then it is in our hands for how long we want to play.”
He made the point that players like Rohit Sharma (38) and Virat Kohli (36) may face scrutiny, but performance remains the decisive factor.
2. Motivation from Younger Players
When asked if he felt pressure from younger players like Shubman Gill (26) overtaking him, he admitted there’s motivation in that fear. But he stressed the importance of camaraderie: “I know what kind of player and human he is… so it just motivates me to do well.”
3. Captain-Coach Relationship
Speaking of his association with coach-mentor Gautam Gambhir, Suryakumar described their bond as that of an elder brother and a younger. Having played under Gambhir’s captaincy earlier at IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, he now leads India with Gambhir as coach. “There are absolutely no differences. 99 per cent the same.”
4. Staying Grounded & Focused
He credited his wife, Devisha, and a small circle of trusted friends for keeping him grounded. Whether after a big innings or a failure, he says life at home is normalised: “Whenever I enter the house… I leave the cricket outside.”
Deeper Insights & Implications
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Late Bloomer to Captain: Suryakumar made his India debut in 2021 at age 31, which is later than most. Yet, within a few years, he rose to T20I captain. His message on age stems from lived experience.
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Fitness & Format Focus: At 35, to continue in T20 cricket at the highest level demands exceptional fitness and game-adaptation. His mindset underscores the modern sporting reality.
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Leadership Transition: With veterans like Rohit and Kohli moving out or changing roles, Suryakumar’s role as a bridge between senior and younger generations is pronounced.
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Role Model for Others: His statement can inspire not just cricketers but athletes in other sports — reinforcing that age is less of a constraint when performance, fitness, and professionalism align.
What to Watch Next
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How Suryakumar manages his workload across formats (T20, ODI) and adapts his game as he ages.
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How India’s team selection handles the balance between experienced players and emerging talent.
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How fitness and injury management evolve as he enters his late 30s.
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Whether his mindset resonates in wider team culture — reinforcing that selection shouldn’t be age-biased, but performance-driven.
Conclusion
Suryakumar Yadav’s message at Express Adda was both simple and profound: age is a number—but staying relevant is a choice. For someone who began his international journey later than most, he stands as proof that with fitness, mindset, and performance, you define how long you play. In a world where careers often fade at 30-plus, his outlook offers both hope and challenge: don’t let age be your limit.
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