logo
SKY Reveals Why He 'Barely Slept The Night Before' His Mumbai Indians Debut

SKY Reveals Why He 'Barely Slept The Night Before' His Mumbai Indians Debut

News1801-05-2025

Suryakumar Yadav made his debut for Mumbai Indians against Pune Warriors at the Wankhede Stadium in 2011.
Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav recently reflected on his debut season for MI in 2011 and said that he 'barely slept" the night before the game.
Suryakumar first came into prominence during the 2011–12 Ranji Trophy season, where he emerged as the top scorer for Mumbai with 754 runs in nine matches. His impressive domestic form earned him a spot in the Mumbai Indians squad the same year.
In the 2012 IPL, Suryakumar made his debut for Mumbai Indians against Pune Warriors at the Wankhede Stadium. He played in one match and was dismissed for a duck. This was also the only match he played for MI in that season.
After a brief stint, he moved to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2013 and played a key role in their middle order, contributing to their title win in 2014.
'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 said on JioHotstar's special show, The Suryakumar Yadav Experience.
In 2018, Suryakumar returned to Mumbai Indians and enjoyed a breakthrough season with 512 runs, becoming a vital part of their batting lineup. His performances in the 2019 and 2020 seasons were instrumental in MI's title runs and eventually led to his much-awaited national team call-up.
He also recalled the IPL 2019 final between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, which Mumbai eventually won by one run. Although he didn't directly take part in the last-over decision-making, he was closely observing. '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 most emotional moments in his career came in 2020 when he was not picked for the Indian team's tour of Australia. He had been doing well in domestic cricket and also had a good IPL season. '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," Suryakumar said.
From 2021 onwards, Suryakumar has changed the way he approaches T20 batting. '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 has grown into a dependable batter for India and MI, known for his aggressive and inventive shot-making. He was part of India's victorious squad at the 2024 T20 World Cup and is now leading the national T20 side following Rohit Sharma's retirement. In 160 IPL matches, Suryakumar has scored more than 4,000 runs, including two centuries and 27 half-centuries.
Mumbai Indians gear up for a crucial match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Thursday.
First Published:

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

RCB to be sold after historic IPL 2025 win? Owner Diageo breaks silence
RCB to be sold after historic IPL 2025 win? Owner Diageo breaks silence

Time of India

time30 minutes ago

  • Time of India

RCB to be sold after historic IPL 2025 win? Owner Diageo breaks silence

Image credit: BCCI/IPL Diageo India, the Indian branch of UK-based Diageo Plc and owner of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL franchise, has firmly rejected rumors of selling the team. In a letter addressed to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and its Surveillance Department on Tuesday, June 10, a Diageo India representative stated that the media reports suggesting a potential sale are purely speculative. "The company would like to clarify that the aforesaid media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussion," Mital Sanghvi, the company secretary, informed the regulating body of the Indian Stock Market. "This is for your information and records." Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! According to a Cricbuzz report, Diageo's statement was in response to a query from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), where the company is publicly listed. Since speculation about a possible sale of the RCB franchise began circulating, shares of United Spirits — the Diageo-owned company that holds RCB — have seen a notable uptick. On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that Diageo is considering selling the RCB franchise. The report surfaced shortly after RCB's maiden IPL title win on June 3 — a milestone achieved after 17 years — followed tragically by an incident in Bengaluru on June 4, where celebrations turned fatal, leaving 11 dead and many injured. Virat Kohli's love for 'dhaba' food, priority for family & more | RCB bus driver shares stories Though Diageo officially dismissed the sale reports as "speculative," the ambiguity of their statement has sparked deeper speculation. A seasoned voice in India's sports business ecosystem suggested that 'being a public company, there will be a lot of pressure on reputational damage,' hinting that Diageo could be weighing its options more seriously than publicly admitted. There are also murmurs about Diageo valuing the RCB franchise at around USD 2 billion. While some industry insiders view that figure as inflated — especially when compared to Torrent's acquisition of Gujarat Titans at approximately INR 7500 crore (around USD 1 billion) — others disagree. Lalit Modi , the architect of the IPL, told Cricbuzz that a USD 2 billion valuation for RCB is quite realistic. 'A particularly special feeling': Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win "I will not be surprised if it is sold for a higher price," he remarked, adding that comparing the RCB valuation to that of the newer Gujarat franchise isn't an apples-to-apples comparison. "I will not be surprised if it is sold for a higher price," he said , stating that the valuation of GT cannot be compared here since it was a one-year-old deal. The sale report remains speculative, as clarified by the Diageo official in the response to the BSE. "No decision is final and they may decide against selling the team, the people said, asking not to be named as the details are private," the Bloomberg report says.

Harbhajan V Mumbai, Who's to Blame for MI's IPL Exit?  First Sports With Rupha Ramani
Harbhajan V Mumbai, Who's to Blame for MI's IPL Exit?  First Sports With Rupha Ramani

First Post

time35 minutes ago

  • First Post

Harbhajan V Mumbai, Who's to Blame for MI's IPL Exit? First Sports With Rupha Ramani

Harbhajan V Mumbai, Who's to Blame for MI's IPL Exit? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G Harbhajan V Mumbai, Who's to Blame for MI's IPL Exit? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G As Bengaluru and Punjab gear up for their historic IPL final, murmurs surrounding Mumbai Indians' dramatic Qualifier 2 exit refuse to die down. One of the most successful franchises in IPL history crashed out just before yet another potential final appearance. This has sparked sharp reactions across the cricketing world. The most striking of them? Harbhajan Singh — a three-time IPL champion with Mumbai. The World Cup winner publicly blamed the coaching staff for over-interference and pressure tactics. But is that criticism fair? Rupha Ramani breaks down Harbhajan's comments, looks at the role of coaches like Mahela Jayawardene and Paras Mhambrey, and questions whether tactical advice is being misread as micromanagement. From drawing parallels with football managers like Guardiola and Klopp to revisiting Mumbai's remarkable turnaround this season, find out if Harbhajan's blame game is justified or just part of the post-defeat noise. See More

Bengaluru V Punjab: Can Virat Kohli Break 18-Year IPL Curse?  First Sports With Rupha Ramani
Bengaluru V Punjab: Can Virat Kohli Break 18-Year IPL Curse?  First Sports With Rupha Ramani

First Post

time36 minutes ago

  • First Post

Bengaluru V Punjab: Can Virat Kohli Break 18-Year IPL Curse? First Sports With Rupha Ramani

Bengaluru V Punjab: Can Virat Kohli Break 18-Year IPL Curse? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G Bengaluru V Punjab: Can Virat Kohli Break 18-Year IPL Curse? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G The IPL 2025 Final is finally here — and it's a showdown no one saw coming: Bengaluru V Punjab. Two franchises with passionate fan bases and years of heartbreak now face off for their maiden Indian Premier League title. Bengaluru, led by the ever-determined Virat Kohli, is chasing glory after 18 long years of waiting. With emotions running high and superstition in the air — including fans conducting havans and chanting "Ee Sala Cup Namde" — this final carries more weight than most. Meanwhile, Punjab fans are already celebrating their first final in over a decade, but will they go all the way? Rupha Ramani breaks down the historical context, legacy moments, fan emotions, and why this final could mark the beginning of a new era in IPL history. See More

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store