OPINION India’s win over Pakistan was more than cricket, Surya Kumar Yadav made sure of it

Surya, unlike some others, has come up the hard way.

Sport is defined by sportsmanship but some things as Surya Kumar Yadav said go beyond it all. India did not need to shake hands with the Pakistan team. They did not need to waste a second on Faheem Ashraf and his filth. His vile social media posts aren’t lost on anyone and the answer has been given on the cricket pitch. Surya and his boys have hurt Pakistan where it will sting the most. That’s what they had come to do and that’s what they have done.

I had written yesterday that India should use the sports field to protest and make the larger point. Now with Salman Agha staying away from the press conference, the point has indeed been made. Not only have the Indians won the match on the field, off the field also they have made a statement. Boycott was never the solution and may I say the Indians played things to perfection.

Surya in particular has added to his stature as skipper by doing what he did. First, he played a fantastic hand to win his team the game. Coming in at the fall of Gill, he knew he had to be there and close things out. And he did. Thereafter he dedicated the win to the armed forces and touched hearts. Yes he did bring a smile on people’s faces and won respect in the process. On his birthday it was the best return gift he could have given his countrymen back home.

Surya, unlike some others, has come up the hard way. For the longest time he had to wait in the wings for an opportunity. Months and years went by and yet he wasn’t picked. It couldn’t have been easy. He was scoring hundreds of runs in domestic cricket and the IPL and yet when it came to the national team, he continued to be overlooked. All it did was strengthen his resolve. Whether or not it impacted his mental health we do not know but what we do know is that it made him more focussed and hard working. And when he did get an opportunity, he made it count. As leader he hasn’t forgotten his lessons. He knows that players will do their best if they aren’t insecure. If someone is continuously thinking about his spot in the side, he can never perform to his ability. You need to make the players feel confident and welcome and not fear failure. That’s what brings the best out of them. Surya has managed to do so with Samson, Tilak and Abhishek and that’s what has helped India’s T-20 cricket in the last 12 months.

Surya is conscious the India Pakistan match is far more than just cricket. Against the backdrop of what happened in Pehelgam, India couldn’t afford to lose this game. It was his way of giving things back and that’s what he did. By standing up for his teammates, Surya has earned the respect of the change room. India has never won back to back world titles and 2026 could be a golden opportunity for Surya Kumar Yadav. After last night, may I say he deserves it a tad bit more.