Suryakumar Surprised at India Being Tagged Favorites

When it comes to the Asia Cup, India’s name is often synonymous with success. The “Men in Blue” hold a record seven titles in the tournament’s history and currently sit atop the ICC T20I rankings. Naturally, many consider India the favorites this time around. But the new Indian skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, seemed genuinely surprised when he heard it.

On September 9, during the Captains’ Day event where all eight skippers gathered for a photo session and media interaction, Suryakumar chuckled upon hearing India were tagged as favorites. “Who said that? I haven’t heard anything like that,” he replied with a smile. “If your preparation is strong, that’s when you have the confidence to do well.”

Following the T20 World Cup triumph, stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from the format, with Suryakumar stepping in as India’s new captain. He has started his reign strongly, with India winning 17 of their 20 matches under his leadership.

Speaking about the conditions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Suryakumar admitted the team was still adjusting. “You all might have played here a lot. We’ve just arrived 3-4 days back. But as a team, things are going well, and we’re excited to do something special,” he said.

India will kick off their campaign today at the Dubai International Stadium with a group-stage clash against Oman.