Hardik Pandya Praises Suryakumar Yadav’s Captaincy; Gautam Gambhir Delivers Epic Speech

Newly appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir started his tenure with a 3-0 T20I series victory against Sri Lanka. During a post-series speech, Gambhir commended Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy and his batting performance. All-rounder Hardik Pandya also praised his Mumbai Indians teammate. These comments were shared by the BCCI in a video on social media.

“Guys, congratulations on a great series win. Congrats to Surya as well—outstanding captaincy and batting. I asked for something before the game, and you delivered. This happens when you keep fighting and never give up. These games only happen when we fight for every delivery and run.

“We need to keep improving, especially on wickets like these. Assess the situation quickly and understand the par score. There’s a lot to learn from this game, but this is a great series win.”

Gambhir also emphasized the importance of maintaining high fitness levels for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

“Some players who won’t be part of the 50-over format will get a longer break, but ensure you return for the Bangladesh series with high fitness levels. Don’t come thinking you can just turn up and deliver. Congratulations again, and Hardik will wrap it up.”

Hardik Pandya echoed Gambhir’s praise for Suryakumar and highlighted the efforts of other players.

“Well done! Batting first was challenging, but after losing early wickets, Shubman (Gill) and Riyan (Parag) built a crucial partnership. Situational awareness was key, and their effort gave us a platform. The bowlers, especially the lower order like Washi (Washington Sundar) and Bishi (Ravi Bishnoi), were fantastic.

“As Gauti bhai mentioned, Surya, your rotation of bowlers and faith in them was brilliant. The bowling group was fantastic. This win is a step forward. To those playing ODIs, continue the momentum!”

India now moves on to the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, without Suryakumar Yadav.