Devendra Pandey: So, basically it was a mauke pe chauka moment.

We can say that, yes. I could not score a boundary in that match though. So when you get an opportunity to do something special as a fielder, it is special. We prepared a lot during practice sessions and had taken such catches but those 5-10 seconds are difficult to describe. It just happened.

Suryakumar Yadav with young fans

Devendra Pandey: Rohit Sharma was standing at long-on. Was there also tension that if the chance was missed, things could be tough later.

What could have happened was a discussion for later but when the ball was in the air, I knew I was the only one who could do something. I just wanted to get hold of the ball somehow.

Anant Goenka: You still thought that you could win, which a lot of people believed was getting almost impossible. That attitude was not just in that game. Your patience resonates in your career.

Absolutely. When I made my debut for India, I was 30-31 years old. I made my first-class debut in 2010-11 and from then, making my India debut in 2021 took really long. I kept working hard towards that goal. When I started playing this sport, I always felt that someday I would represent the country and do something special. That kept me driving. After 2016, when I got married, we started having a conversation in a different way.

I had been playing cricket for 10-12 years. What could I do differently? I became more disciplined from 2017-18 when I came back to Mumbai Indians. I got more opportunities to bat higher up the order. Those three years changed everything and then in 2021, I made my India debut and that was the feeling.

Young boys interacting with Suryakumar Yadav and holding up a fan banner

Devendra Pandey: But many don’t know Devisha (wife) and the role she has played over the years.

She has always been behind the scenes. I have saved my wife’s name on my phone as ‘the best decision of my life’. She has played a big role because we started talking about cricket when we got married. She knew I was playing domestic cricket and she was following that. When we were dating, she told me, ‘You are playing at a good level but what’s your goal?’ I said, ‘I have to play for India.’ She asked, ‘How would you be able to play with such habits?’ So that made me think. I started to fix timings and gave up late nights. She said, ‘You work hard Monday to Friday. Saturday, Sunday you take a break.’ The plan took off from there.

Devendra Pandey: When Devisha did not notice you, what happened? Eventually, you did get married.

I still remember I went to meet a friend at Podar College. One of my friends waved to her and I asked my friend to introduce me to her. She didn’t seem impressed. Then we started talking, taking an interest in each other and then our story started taking a lovely turn.

Audience at Express Adda in Mumbai

Anant Goenka: A lot happened during your journey but you have not let success or failure get to you. There is always an equanimity about you. How did you get there?

From a young age, I was blessed with a lovely family and a few good friends who are still in touch. There are three-four people who always kept me grounded and humble. Whenever I came back from any tour, any first-class game or an IPL game, they were always the same. So I figured out who the real people around me were. Even Devisha, whenever I go back home after scoring a lot of runs or not scoring at all, she is always the same. There’s no conversation about cricket in the house.

Anant Goenka: But that’s not the trend. Would you agree? Irrespective of the field, there is a tendency to display success. People are proud of becoming unrecognisable from their older selves. Do you see that as a cultural change happening?

I don’t know what is happening in others’ lives when they go back home. But I have been very relaxed, very happy with what is happening. There was a time when everything was going well and when things were not going my way. I play this sport because I love it. But at the same time, you can’t play till you are 60. Few people play for 25 years. They are legends. But you have to realise that it is just a part of your life. It is not your whole life. That’s how I see it.

Suryakumar Yadav with George Varghese, Chief Executive Officer & Wholetime Director, The Indian Express

Anant Goenka: What about being pressured by agents or managers about more Instagram presence… photographs of you getting out of a fancy car or with the family or kids playing cricket on the street?

Those things are secondary. For example, 2-3 weeks before we started for the Asia Cup, I deleted everything from my phone… all the apps. Only WhatsApp and normal calls were available. Everything else was being taken care of by my team. That keeps me calm.

Devendra Pandey: Did you ever have a Plan B in place? Harbhajan (Singh) and (Jasprit) Bumrah have said in the past that if cricket hadn’t worked out, they would have driven a car or truck in Canada.

Nothing of that sort came to my mind ever. But I always felt that I could have been a good businessman. My parents would always say I have a sharp mind for business. I have shared my knowledge of business with some people and they liked it. If I wasn’t playing cricket, then business.

Devendra Pandey: You used to bunk school and play cricket. Was there fear in the family that you could grow up to be nothing at all?

They gave me the best education till Class 12. But when they saw that I was serious about sports, they started supporting me. Everybody in my family is from an academic background, it was a difficult decision for them .

Devendra Pandey: Does your state of mind change when you start earning so much, especially at a young age?

Never. For me, it was simple. This life was given to me by my parents. So I must earn enough to take care of them, get married and have children. And I should be able to own a good car. Rest all is moh maaya.

Devendra Pandey: You have been an advisor to many. Sarfaraz Khan said he approached you for sympathy when he was going through a bad patch but instead you gave him two choices: either keep staring at the door of opportunity or break it open.

A mirror is always a better option. So whenever someone asks me anything, I tell them to do the best in whatever is in their control. Leave the rest to God.

Devendra Pandey: Whom do you take advice from?

I go to the mirror. If it does not answer, I have a wife at home who tells the truth.

Anant Goenka: You chant Hanuman Chalisa every morning. Is there any learning you apply on the field?

I love to hear it after a shower. For 10-15 minutes, I want to be with myself. My mother used to say, ‘Hanumanji always had to be reminded of what he was capable of.’ The same applies to me. If I am going somewhere, I keep listening to it. I feel relaxed.

Anant Goenka: Does it keep ego at bay, considering right now in Indian cricket, one day you are playing under someone’s captaincy and the next day you are playing as the captain of your mentor. How does that dynamic work?

Irrespective of what position you are in, your job is to do something for the team. Whether you are playing under someone or you are a leader, it doesn’t matter.

Anant Goenka: At the Asia Cup, the decision to not shake hands was talked about the most.  Was it taken collectively?

Yes. That was one stand which we took collectively. It was my birthday too, so I thought it was a good day.

Anant Goenka: Tell us about MI and the fact that there seem to be three captains in that franchise.

It’s a family. All the players are capable of leading any other franchise or any team in the world but then there’s an X factor there, which makes you feel ready for bigger occasions.

Anant Goenka: Where does that come from? Is it not there in other teams?

From a cricketing point of view, you have so many good people around to learn from. MI prepares players well for big occasions when the pressure is high. The latest example is Tilak Varma. The way he batted in the Asia Cup was fantastic. He is the perfect MI product. Then there’s also a homely feeling. When you are at the hotel, off-field interactions with the players and the way they make you comfortable matter a lot. Off the field is the best place to understand any player. That’s why everyone wants to play for MI.

Devendra Pandey: What facilities do MI provide?

They provided me with all the best things when I came back. I got to bat higher up the order the first year. In the second year, I batted at three-four and then the position got fixed. Then, I started talking to all the coaches. Slowly, I started climbing up the ladder. Being in Mumbai, I practised a lot. They provided training facilities. What you see today, between 2021 to 2025, is a product of 2018-19-20 at MI.

Devendra Pandey: Shubman Gill has been appointed captain in two formats. The selection committee has also decided that he will be the face going ahead. Does it occur to you that your position could be in danger?

It motivates you to do better. The camaraderie between the two of us is amazing off the field and on the field. I know the kind of player he is, the kind of human being he is. It helps me to do well myself. I left fear long back. I believe if I am following everything that has to be followed, working really hard, everything will be taken care of. But I am really happy for him. He has done really well.

Devendra Pandey: You have great chemistry with Gautam Gambhir. Can you talk more about him?

There is no need for words. Because our relationship is like one between two brothers. I have played in franchise cricket with him for four years in Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). I have learned a lot from him. Now life has come full circle. He’s the coach of the Indian team. Not much discussion is required between us on matters like choosing the playing 11. Ninety-nine per cent of the time, it’s the same. On the ground, if I need to make a decision, I look towards the dugout and if he signals, I don’t even think twice.

Anant Goenka: What is the future of Test cricket, according to you? Is it going to be six countries that are really invested in Test cricket going forward?

The recent India vs England series and also in a lot of Test series going on right now, matches are going till the fifth day, last session.

Anant Goenka: But look at what happened to the West Indies.

Exact opposite…

Because we played well.

Anant Goenka: Players seem to enjoy Test cricket but audiences don’t.

Audiences are watching on TV and enjoying it now. After any Test series, a lot of people are talking about it.

Anant Goenka: Do you think it’s here to stay?

I think it’s here to stay. It’s the best format.

Anant Goenka: How do we get more countries involved in the game of cricket in the first place?

There are a lot of countries taking part in cricket right now. I heard Italy just qualified for the T20 World Cup. So, a lot of countries are coming up. We also played in the Asia Cup. We played against Oman and UAE. There are a lot of countries that are actually coming up slowly with good guidance.

Anant Goenka: Will Olympics help?

Olympics will definitely help.

Devendra Pandey: What is your style of captaincy?

I am very relaxed on the ground, even when I am under pressure. During fielding, I smile. I let the bowlers have their say. There are a lot of things going in a bowler’s mind. It is a team and it is important to listen to everyone. Everyone brings very different things to the table.

(From Left) Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group; Devendra Pandey, Deputy Associate Editor, Sports, The Indian Express and cricketer and
T20 International captain Suryakumar Yadav

Rapid Fire with Anant Goenka

🔴 Who is more influential today? The coach or the captain?

50/50

🔴 Your favourite sport to play and watch after cricket.

Pickle ball. Football

🔴 How many chewing gums do you go through in a day?

I only chew gum when I am batting.

🔴 Do you prefer watching cricket with Hindi or English commentary?

Matrabhasha Hindi.

🔴 The most bizarre superstition a cricketer you know follows.

Shubman Gill. There’s always a colour code of a pad that the BCCI gives before any tournament. It has to look the same as your trouser. He has been using a completely different colour — a light blue — code pad since 2022. And he has been doing really well with that colour.

🔴 The most bizarre superstition that you follow?

Not superstition but a routine. Putting your right leg on the ground first or eating a nut before coming on to the ground.

🔴 That one tattoo on your body that means the most to you.

I am in this world because of my mom and dad. So their name and portrait is on my body. The second is of my wife.

🔴 You have been given authority to tattoo one word on the following people. What word would it be for:

w Rohit Sharma: Garden

w Virat: G.O.A.T.

w Bumrah: Brother

w Salman Agha: Stop

w Shubman Gill: Maybe a smiley emoji

🔴 Does the IPL need more or fewer teams?

I think this is good. Ten is good.

🔴 The one umpire decision that still bothers you?

None.

🔴 The one reason you think bowlers don’t become captains.

There are bowlers who are also very good captains. But they get tired. If they are playing test cricket, they have to bowl 15-20 overs through the day.

🔴 Supla or inside out? Your favourite.

Supla. Definitely.

🔴 The one fitness myth and fitness reality you think people over 30 should know.

Know what you are eating at 30 or 20. I don’t think there is any reality or myth to follow.

🔴 The one thing that Gautam Gambhir has learnt from you?

I will have to ask him.

🔴 The one thing you learned from him.

Being fearless on the ground. Listening to everyone.

🔴 The last time you had a difference of opinion with Gautam Gambhir.

When he was the KKR captain, I knew I could tell him a lot of things so maybe there was a difference of opinion but not anymore.

🔴 It is 2035. Artificial intelligence has taken away every job in the country. You have got only two jobs to choose from: a politician and the other is a coach.

What do you think? We have talked so much now.

🔴 I think you will make a pretty good politician.

2035? Definitely.

AUDIENCE QUESTIONS

Amit Haware

Amit Haware
MD & CEO, Haware Properties

When you made the India debut, you hit a six on the first ball. Did you plan it? How did you prepare for it? And what advice would you give the next generation on how to play the game? My son is 10 and he is something of a cricketer himself.

At this age, you just want to enjoy what you are doing. If he really enjoys playing this sport, you will automatically see a spark somewhere.

About the first ball, I didn’t think so much. I was already 30 when I made my debut. I had already gone through a lot with domestic and franchise cricket. I wanted to do something special because I waited for a long time and that actually was very instinctive and I am happy that happened.

Anshul Ramesh

Anshul Ramesh
Sports Lawyer

Indian cricketers have restrictions on playing in foreign tournaments. Do you think BCCI should allow them to play in foreign leagues? Also, since a lot of Indian cricketers come from rural backgrounds, do you think they have enough understanding to handle legalities, considering the money they make in the IPL etc.

It’s always good to have good people around you. When you come from a humble background, you need them to guide you when you get money and fame. To answer the first question, two or three teams are already ready to play all the formats. So why do you want our players to go and play in other leagues?

Farhat Jamal

Farhat Jamal
Senior hospitality specialist

You have 10 seconds during DRS. Who takes the call?

The call has to be taken in those seconds. The keeper and the bowler have to be proactive at that time. The captain’s role at that time is only this, nothing else.

Bhavik Merchant

Bhavik Merchant
Executive Director, Swan Energy, Inc

Who is your cricketing idol and who is the best player you ever played with?

I grew up watching Sachin Sir. Fortunately, in 2011, I got a chance to spend time with him in MI.