India Ready to Defend T20 World Cup Title Without Pressure, Says Suryakumar Yadav

Mumbai, Feb 5: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to get underway, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has made it clear that being the defending champions does not burden his team with added pressure or expectations. India will enter the marquee tournament aiming to defend the title they lifted two years ago, but according to their skipper, confidence—not complacency—defines the squad’s mindset.

Speaking at the pre-event media briefing where captains of all participating teams addressed the press, Suryakumar was questioned extensively on a range of issues, including the pressure of defending the crown, his own recent form with the bat, and the role playing conditions—particularly dew—could have on matches during the tournament.

Suryakumar dismissed the notion that India would feel weighed down by expectations simply because they are the reigning champions. He pointed to the team’s recent performances, especially their dominant 4-1 series victory over New Zealand in a five-match T20I series, as evidence of the side’s strong preparation heading into the World Cup.

“I think the way we’ve been playing, it looks like that,” Suryakumar said when asked about expectations. “But on a given day, when you play a game, you have to bring your A game. You have to play good cricket. There are definitely 19 very good teams in the competition, and I’m sure every game will be very important.”

The Indian captain also addressed questions surrounding his personal form. Despite some criticism earlier, Suryakumar reiterated that he never felt out of form, only short of runs. His recent performances against New Zealand, which included a couple of valuable half-centuries, have reinforced that belief.

“I had said the same thing sitting here earlier—I remember—I’m not out of form, just out of runs,” he said. “But yes, it’s always good to be back among the runs, especially before a big tournament.” Widely regarded as one of the most destructive T20I batters in the world due to his 360-degree stroke play, Suryakumar said he feels confident and ready at the right time.

Another major topic during the interaction was the concern raised by former India captain MS Dhoni regarding the impact of dew, particularly during night matches. Dhoni had pointed out that given the season and venues, dew could play a decisive role, making bowling in the second innings extremely challenging due to a wet ball.

Responding to this, Suryakumar acknowledged that dew could influence matches but stressed that it was not something teams could control. Instead, he said India would focus on aspects within their control and stick to strategies that have worked well in recent times.

“Dew is not in our control. Sometimes, if you win the toss and field first and then bat, you don’t get dew. But again, it’s not something we can decide,” he explained. “We want to focus on what is in our control. We’ve been doing well batting first, and we’ve also been successful in run chases. So there’s no problem with either.”

He added that decisions such as whether to bat or bowl first would be taken on match day, depending on conditions and opposition, regardless of whether it is a league game, semifinal, or final. According to Suryakumar, putting runs on the board has often proven beneficial, but the team is equally comfortable chasing targets—even in dewy conditions.

“If you’ve seen, when we’re batting, making runs and defending, we’ve played so many matches in dew. So we have an idea,” he said. “Many players in this team have been playing franchise cricket and international cricket for years now. Dew is something we should take out of the game mentally and just focus on playing good cricket.”

Suryakumar also ruled out the idea of preferring only day games to avoid dew. Instead, he described dew as a challenge that teams must be prepared to face rather than fear.

“There are day games in the tournament, but I feel it’s a good challenge if dew comes,” he said. “The game has become so advanced now. If dew is going to happen, you prepare for it. It all comes down to preparation and execution. Once you step onto the field, it’s almost on autopilot.”

As India gear up to begin their title defence, the captain’s words reflect a team focused on preparation, adaptability, and playing fearless cricket—without being distracted by labels or external pressure.