A step down to step up for Suryakumar Yadav

It was a pleasant surprise for me. I knew that the under-23 India team was to be picked but didnt expect to be made the captain. It is a big opportunity and I dont want to miss it this time, Yadav says.

After his disappointing slide in the domestic circuit,reports began to emerge of Yadav taking things for granted and letting his fitness detoriarate. Yadav admits he became too casual after the initial high. After first season I thought the road ahead will be easy. I was carried away and relaxed a little too much. I was wrong and by the time I realised my mistake,half the season was gone, Yadav says.

This season was an especially bad one for Yadav,who only made 42 runs in four games before the final. In the final,Yadav slammed a hundred in a game that Mumbai won,but the innings came too late as the season ended without big runs.

Its been a frustrating year for me. Nothing went right. I knew I had made mistakes and spoke to senior players like Ajit Agarkar,Wasim bhai and Rohit Sharma. They told me that such things happen when you are new to the game. They were the toughest days of my career, Yadav says.

Having changed a few things,Yadav hopes things will turn around for him. Apart from the responsibility of captaincy,the 22-year old hopes to be in the runs in the middle order.

Its a big responsibility for me. It will be the first time I will lead an India side. There will be pressure but at the same time I feel it is important to enjoy the game. The more you think,the more it will affect your game, he says.