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Suryakumar Yadav Confident India Can Defend T20 World Cup Title

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has expressed strong confidence in his team's ability to defend their T20 World Cup title, citing their preparation and positive mindset. He emphasised the importance of prioritising team goals and allowing players the freedom to express themselves naturally. India started their 2026 campaign with a convincing 29-run victory over the USA, with Yadav scoring an unbeaten 84. The team now looks ahead to key group matches against Namibia, Pakistan, and the Netherlands.

Key Points: Suryakumar Yadav Confident in India's T20 World Cup Defence

  • Team prioritises goals over personal milestones
  • Honesty and freedom key to team atmosphere
  • Impressive win percentage over last two years
  • India began campaign with 29-run victory over USA
2 min read

"I feel this team is fully prepared": Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav expresses confidence in his side

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav expresses full confidence in his team's preparation and mindset for defending the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

"I feel this team is fully prepared for the T20 World Cup. I don't see any reason why we can't go all the way. - Suryakumar Yadav"

New Delhi, February 11

As the defending champions India registered a winning start to their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a 29-run victory over the USA in Mumbai Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav shared his thoughts on India's title defence and the reasons behind his team's superb form in the T20 format over the last 18 months. Suryakumar Yadav was confident about his team's title defence. "If you prioritise team goals ahead of personal milestones, more often than not, I feel the team will be in a dominant position. Only we can stop ourselves from overanalysing or slipping into a negative mindset, but I believe this team is fully prepared for the T20 World Cup. I don't see any reason why we can't go all the way," Suryakumar Yadav said on JioStar. Yadav also emphasised the importance of giving everyone on the team the freedom to express themselves. "Honesty and freedom of speech are essential to a team sport. It's important to listen to other players, as they may have insights that could benefit the team. Also, giving everyone the freedom to play their natural game, which has helped them reach this level, is key to maintaining a healthy team atmosphere. Looking at our win percentage over the last one or two years, which has been impressive, we must be doing something right," he added.

Defending champions India will play their second group-stage match against Namibia on Thursday at the T20 World Cup 2026. After winning the first match, India will aim for another victory at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

The Indian team defeated the USA by 29 runs, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav remaining unbeaten on 84 from 49 balls. After Namibia, India is scheduled to play the much-anticipated World Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo on February 15, before travelling to Ahmedabad for their final group-stage clash against the Netherlands on February 18.

Indian squad: Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Verma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakraborty, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Love the emphasis on team goals over personal milestones. That's the real secret sauce. This mindset is what was missing in some past tournaments. Feeling optimistic!
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Aman W
Good start, but Namibia is a must-win to build momentum before the big one. The real test is Pakistan in Colombo. Hope the batting order is settled by then.
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Sarah B
Watching from Australia. Suryakumar's leadership philosophy is spot on. Creating a space where players feel free to express themselves is crucial in T20 cricket. India looks like the team to beat.
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Vikram M
With all respect to the skipper's confidence, I feel we are getting ahead of ourselves. One win against USA doesn't guarantee the cup. Our middle order still looks a bit shaky to me. Need to be cautious.
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Kavya N
The balance in the squad looks perfect! Power hitters, finishers, and a world-class bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah is back to his best. We are definitely the favourites. All the best for the Namibia match!

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