- Joined
- Aug 29, 2023
- Runs
- 36,492
Suryakumar Yadav speaking during the India vs Pakistan pre-match press conference:
On Oman's Performance and India's Batting
“They played a really good brand of cricket. I mentioned this in the post-match also; they batted really well. There was a little bit of dew, but that's not an excuse—they just batted very well. From our point of view, our batters didn't get a lot of game time. Guys like Sanju, Hardik, Axar, Dubey, and even Tilak, against Pakistan, didn't get a lot of time at the crease. Arshdeep and Harshit can also bat, so we wanted to see how they would handle the last three or four overs. When one or two overs were left, Arshdeep said he wanted to go in to bat, and I said that was no problem; it was completely fine. But whether I bat or not, winning the game is more important, and that's what we focused on.”
On Playing Pakistan Twice and "Outside Noise"
“I feel our preparations have been really good leading into this tournament. We had three good games, and we are focusing on what we can do best. As I said at the toss, we want to follow all the good habits we've been practicing in the last couple of games. We will take it one game at a time. Playing them once and having a good game doesn't give us an edge. We'll have to start well from scratch, and the team that plays better will win.”
About how to shut out the outside noise:
“The best way is to close your room, switch off your phone, and sleep. It's easy to say, but sometimes it's difficult because you meet friends, you go out for dinner, and a lot of players also like to see all these things. It's on you what you want to listen to and what you want to have in your mind before a practice session or a game. I have been very clear with all the boys: it's important to shut out a lot of noise from the outside. You don't have to shut it out completely, but take what is good for you. Someone can give you good advice that can help you on the ground, so that's very important. I feel everyone is in a good space.”
On the India-Pakistan Rivalry
“I don't know what rivalry you're talking about. When I go to the ground and the stadium is full, I tell my team that it's time for entertainment. So many people have come to watch the match, so you have to entertain everyone by playing a good brand of cricket. We don't think much about it. We have played three games, and we enjoyed winning all three. Every game is a new challenge that we take in our stride. We win, learn from it, and try to do the same in the next game.”
On Pitch Conditions and the Toss Factor
“I don't think there was much difference in the toss. Here in Dubai, it was a little humid, and conditions got a little better in the second half. But I feel the wicket doesn't change much over 40 overs, and there wasn't a lot of dew. So, the team that plays both phases—batting and bowling—well, will be in a good position. The conditions were similar in both innings and were really good for 40 overs.”
On Player Preparation and Recovery
“The practice session is where you try to get ready for the game. You can't match the intensity of the game in practice, but you can get close with running, fielding, and batting sessions. Hydration is one of the main things that our sports science team is paying attention to, and recovery is also very important. At this level, you are so professional that you don't need to be told how to prepare for a match. When we play in India or the IPL, we also play 3 or 4 p.m. matches. I think it's similar here, with the plus point that you're playing in the evening. Everyone has their own preparation, and I haven't seen many cramps so far, so I think they are preparing themselves really well.”
About Jasprit Bumrah
“He did bowl a lot in the nets yesterday, that's his routine. Whether he's playing or not, he likes to come to the ground and bowl around 8 to 10 overs. Today, also, in the warm-up, he was almost pumped up; it felt like he was playing the game. I had to tell him that he was resting today. But his preparations are spot on, irrespective of whether he's playing or not. That's one thing that makes his preparation different, and I feel he's always ready to play.
On Playing for India
“The best match for me was when I played the first game for India. After that, every match I've played for India, whenever I've taken the field wearing the jersey, it's always been a proud moment for me. And even when I step on the ground, I am always excited and proud to be part of this wonderful campaign. Whenever I get the opportunity, I will always be proud. If you've seen, I always keep my eyes closed during the national anthem. I keep thinking about it, and I keep thanking God that he keeps giving me the opportunity to play as long as I can. I am very happy about that.”
On Oman's Performance and India's Batting
“They played a really good brand of cricket. I mentioned this in the post-match also; they batted really well. There was a little bit of dew, but that's not an excuse—they just batted very well. From our point of view, our batters didn't get a lot of game time. Guys like Sanju, Hardik, Axar, Dubey, and even Tilak, against Pakistan, didn't get a lot of time at the crease. Arshdeep and Harshit can also bat, so we wanted to see how they would handle the last three or four overs. When one or two overs were left, Arshdeep said he wanted to go in to bat, and I said that was no problem; it was completely fine. But whether I bat or not, winning the game is more important, and that's what we focused on.”
On Playing Pakistan Twice and "Outside Noise"
“I feel our preparations have been really good leading into this tournament. We had three good games, and we are focusing on what we can do best. As I said at the toss, we want to follow all the good habits we've been practicing in the last couple of games. We will take it one game at a time. Playing them once and having a good game doesn't give us an edge. We'll have to start well from scratch, and the team that plays better will win.”
About how to shut out the outside noise:
“The best way is to close your room, switch off your phone, and sleep. It's easy to say, but sometimes it's difficult because you meet friends, you go out for dinner, and a lot of players also like to see all these things. It's on you what you want to listen to and what you want to have in your mind before a practice session or a game. I have been very clear with all the boys: it's important to shut out a lot of noise from the outside. You don't have to shut it out completely, but take what is good for you. Someone can give you good advice that can help you on the ground, so that's very important. I feel everyone is in a good space.”
On the India-Pakistan Rivalry
“I don't know what rivalry you're talking about. When I go to the ground and the stadium is full, I tell my team that it's time for entertainment. So many people have come to watch the match, so you have to entertain everyone by playing a good brand of cricket. We don't think much about it. We have played three games, and we enjoyed winning all three. Every game is a new challenge that we take in our stride. We win, learn from it, and try to do the same in the next game.”
On Pitch Conditions and the Toss Factor
“I don't think there was much difference in the toss. Here in Dubai, it was a little humid, and conditions got a little better in the second half. But I feel the wicket doesn't change much over 40 overs, and there wasn't a lot of dew. So, the team that plays both phases—batting and bowling—well, will be in a good position. The conditions were similar in both innings and were really good for 40 overs.”
On Player Preparation and Recovery
“The practice session is where you try to get ready for the game. You can't match the intensity of the game in practice, but you can get close with running, fielding, and batting sessions. Hydration is one of the main things that our sports science team is paying attention to, and recovery is also very important. At this level, you are so professional that you don't need to be told how to prepare for a match. When we play in India or the IPL, we also play 3 or 4 p.m. matches. I think it's similar here, with the plus point that you're playing in the evening. Everyone has their own preparation, and I haven't seen many cramps so far, so I think they are preparing themselves really well.”
About Jasprit Bumrah
“He did bowl a lot in the nets yesterday, that's his routine. Whether he's playing or not, he likes to come to the ground and bowl around 8 to 10 overs. Today, also, in the warm-up, he was almost pumped up; it felt like he was playing the game. I had to tell him that he was resting today. But his preparations are spot on, irrespective of whether he's playing or not. That's one thing that makes his preparation different, and I feel he's always ready to play.
On Playing for India
“The best match for me was when I played the first game for India. After that, every match I've played for India, whenever I've taken the field wearing the jersey, it's always been a proud moment for me. And even when I step on the ground, I am always excited and proud to be part of this wonderful campaign. Whenever I get the opportunity, I will always be proud. If you've seen, I always keep my eyes closed during the national anthem. I keep thinking about it, and I keep thanking God that he keeps giving me the opportunity to play as long as I can. I am very happy about that.”
...
