India captain Suryakumar Yadav is aware that some things are “easier said than done” as he prepares for another intense Asia Cup match against Pakistan on Sunday. Closing the hotel room door, turning off the cell phone, and going to bed are good ways to “shut outside noise” before a crucial game.
The amiable captain, who led the side to victory in their chase last Sunday against the same opponents with a 47 not out, did not shake hands with opposition captain Salman Ali Agha during the toss or after ending the with a six.
His act of expressing sympathy for the victims of the Pahalgam incident and dedicating the victory to the Indian Armed Forces sent the cross-border neighbors into a tailspin before this Asia Cup Super 4s match.
So, how does one turn off outside noise? “Close your room, switch off your phone and sleep. I think that’s the best thing. It’s easy to say, but sometimes it is difficult because you meet a lot of friends, you go out for dinner and you have a lot of players who like to see all these things so it’s very difficult,” ahead of another tight game, the blunt-spoken Mumbaikar stated.
He is aware, nevertheless, that some positive things can be chosen with one’s own judgment and that outside noise cannot be completely blocked.
“…it’s on you what you want to listen to, what you want to have in your mind and go on and have a practice session or go on and have a game.”
The game must be the main emphasis despite everything else.
“I have been very clear with all the boys, I think it’s very important if we want to do well this tournament and going forward, we will have to shut a lot of noise from outside and take what is good for you.
“I am not saying shut the noise completely, but take what is good for you and someone can give you a good advice as well which can help you in the game and on the ground.”
An Indian journalist cheekily asked, “Surya you guys batted well and also did a lot of other things well in the last game. So do you want to continue doing that?”
The ‘No Handshake’ regulation was clearly being referenced, but the seasoned cricketer, who has faced 100 press conferences and challenging questions, understood how to handle it.
“By other things, you mean we bowled well, isn’t it?” his wry smile never left his face as he spoke.
After three games, he believed the team was well-prepared for the contest.
“I feel our preparations have been really good leading into the tournament and we had three good games also. So we are actually focusing on what we can do best.”
Given the heat and humidity, Surya believes that toss won’t provide any additional advantage.
“We will have to start well from scratch and whoever plays well will win the game.”
In response to a question on whether India-Pakistan matches are becoming unfair in terms of cricket skill, he stated that, in his opinion, the most important thing is to perform for an enthusiastic crowd.
“At that time, I don’t know, I have never played (laughs), so I can’t say, but if we talk about rivalry, I don’t know what rivalry you are talking about. I just feel that the stadium is full and when the stadium is full, I tell my team and everyone that it’s time for entertainment and people have come to watch the match, so you have to entertain and entertain everyone, let’s play some good brand of cricket.”
