With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 just a couple of months away, focus is shifting on the shape-up of the leading contenders in the tournament.

Among them is India, the defending champions after their win at Barbados in June 2024, who are led by the experienced Suryakumar Yadav.

The middle-order batter who made his international debut only after reaching 30 had a prolific rise in the T20I format.

From being a star batter for the Team in Blue, winning the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year awards in 2022 and 2023, to an exceptional record as the T20I skipper (28 wins from 38 matches), Suryakumar has met astounding results in the shortest version of the game.

“There are a lot of players who I have to take care of (as a captain) on the field, off the field now,” Suryakumar said in an interview with the ICC last month, opening up on the most significant change he had experienced over the last five years.

But the 35-year-old was more than happy with how his team had shaped up thus far.

“The boys have been very good. The response has been good on the ground. The atmosphere is completely relaxed. Everything is going really well,” he said.

Suryakumar took charge of the side at a stage when senior figures Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja had retired from the format, leaving him with the task of managing a relatively younger group of players.

“There are a lot of players who’ve come in doing really well, making my job easier when I'm on the ground and it's good to have them around playing this brand of cricket, being so fearless, what we've been talking about when we play this format. So, it’s made my job a lot easier,” Suryakumar said,

His words are backed by India’s aggressive approach on the field, which has also produced significant results; the side haven’t lost a series since the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.

During the interview, Suryakumar also outlined his personal ambition going ahead.

“When we won the T20 World Cup in 2024, came back to India, then this captaincy stint started for the T20 team. The next goal, which my wife, she told me, I think the next goal has to be a World Cup-winning captain," Suryakumar noted.

“I'm very fortunate and I think blessed and it's a good opportunity that we are playing a T20 World Cup in India in front of Indian fans. I heard recently that no other nation has defended this trophy ever," he said.

"So it will be a very good challenge, good responsibility as well and I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun playing in India,” Suryakumar said.

As the discussion had drifted towards T20 World Cups, Suryakumar was asked about his famous catch in the final over of the previous edition of the tournament, a stunning display deep in the field that effectively sealed India’s second title win.

“I don't want to lie about it, but I myself must have seen it more than a million times since that T20 World Cup happened," he said.

“I mean anywhere, wherever I meet anyone today also, they still remind me of that catch. It's still there in my phone saved in the gallery. So, I keep seeing it because it was a special moment, you can’t run away from the fact,” Suryakumar added.