Suryakumar Yadav (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav recently opened up about his debut season with the franchise in 2011, revealing that he “barely slept” the night before his first game. Suryakumar rose to prominence during the 2011–12 Ranji Trophy season, finishing as Mumbai’s top scorer with 754 runs in nine matches. His stellar domestic form earned him a place in the Mumbai Indians squad that same year.
He made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in the 2012 season, playing against Pune Warriors at the Wankhede Stadium. However, his first outing was short-lived as he was dismissed for a duck—the only game he featured in that season.

The following year, he moved to Kolkata Knight Riders and became a key figure in their middle order, playing a significant role in their 2014 title win.
“I barely slept the night before my debut for Mumbai Indians – went to bed around 4 or 5 in the morning. There was so much excitement. Playing for a franchise brings a different kind of buzz. I was just enjoying the moment, thinking about stepping onto the field for warm-up and as soon as I did, I was already sweating. It felt really good,” Suryakumar shared on JioHotstar’s special show, The Suryakumar Yadav Experience.
In 2018, he returned to Mumbai Indians and enjoyed a breakout season, scoring 512 runs and establishing himself as a mainstay in the batting lineup. His consistent performances over the next two years were instrumental in MI’s title-winning campaigns and eventually led to his long-awaited India call-up.

“In 2018, I didn’t expect to open. I didn’t in the first two games, but then the team management came to me and said they wanted me to take on that responsibility. I was keen, so I embraced it. From there, it was up to me to make the most of the opportunity. I didn’t overthink it. Having played all my cricket in Mumbai, I was familiar with the conditions at Wankhede and the pitches. I just kept playing and practicing. I didn’t expect to have a season with 500 runs as my previous seasons never went beyond 200, but this felt different.”

He also recalled being a keen observer during the tense 2019 IPL final against Chennai Super Kings, which Mumbai won by a solitary run. Though not directly involved in the last-over discussions, he had a close view of the decisive moment. “I was standing at a distance when Rohit and Malinga were talking. Malinga just said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll do it.’ And he did. That moment taught me how important calmness is in such pressure situations.”
One of the toughest phases in his journey came in 2020, when he was overlooked for India’s tour of Australia despite strong performances.
“Everyone thought I would be selected. Even overseas players were saying the same. When I didn’t see my name in the squad, I didn’t talk to anyone for 2-3 days. I didn’t practice either. Mahela and Zaheer could see that something was wrong,” he recalled.

From 2021 onwards, Suryakumar evolved his T20 batting approach to keep pace with the changing demands of the game. “Earlier, I was batting at a strike rate of 140–150. But the game changed. So I started practicing different shots to stay ahead of the bowlers and captains. I focused on areas where I could score with less risk. My century this season against Sunrisers Hyderabad came because of that practice.”
Suryakumar stands as one of India’s most reliable and innovative batters in the shortest format. He was a part of the triumphant Indian squad at the 2024 T20 World Cup and now leads the national T20 side following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Across 160 IPL matches, he has amassed over 4,000 runs, including two centuries and 27 half-centuries.
Mumbai Indians are now gearing up for a crucial encounter against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Thursday.