Suryakumar Yadav’s transformation from a middle-order batsman to a top-order force for Mumbai Indians (MI) has been nothing short of phenomenal. However, many may not know that SKY was once part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) setup, even winning a title with them in 2014. But Gautam Gambhir, the captain of that KKR team, now admits a major regret – not fully utilizing Suryakumar Yadav’s potential.
Suryakumar Yadav early IPL journey
Suryakumar Yadav‘s first taste of the IPL came in 2012 with MI, but a single match was all he got before being released. KKR then picked him up in 2014, and he went on to win the IPL title in his debut season with the franchise.
Over the next four years, he amassed 608 runs in 54 matches, primarily batting in the lower middle order.
Gautam Gambhir regret
Looking back at his KKR captaincy stint, Gautam Gambhir has identified Suryakumar as his biggest regret. In a recent interview with Sportskeeda, he acknowledged failing to identify Suryakumar Yadav’s true potential and ideal batting position. “As a leader, you have to identify the best potential and show it to the world,” Gambhir admitted. “If there is one regret I have in my seven years of captaincy, it’s that me and the team never managed to use Suryakumar Yadav to the best of his potential.”
He explained that team combinations played a role, with only one player getting the coveted No. 3 spot.
Suryakumar Yadav: A Vice-Captain Material
Despite limited opportunities, Gautam Gambhir praised Suryakumar’s dedication as a team player. “He was a team man,” Gambhir said. “Anyone can be a good player, but being a team man is a difficult task. Whether you played him at No. 6 or 7 or benched him, he was always smiling and always ready to perform for the team. That’s why we appointed him as the vice-captain.”
More on IPL:
Suryakumar flourishes in MI
While KKR couldn’t unlock Suryakumar Yadav’s full potential, his move to MI in 2018 proved to be a turning point. Used as a top-order batsman, he thrived under MI’s leadership, blossoming into a world-class cricketer.
Gautam Gambhir’s regret highlights the importance of recognizing talent and providing the right platform for players to shine. Suryakumar’s journey serves as a reminder that sometimes, a change of scenery can unlock a player’s true potential.
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