NEW DELHI: Former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav strongly rubbished a fake statement circulating on social media, urging fans not to fall for misinformation while reiterating his unwavering support for the Indian team despite the absence of the T20I captaincy.Suryakumar, who led India to the T20 World Cup title before being replaced as captain by: Shreyas Iyer and was left out of the squads for the UK tour and the Asian Games, took to X on Tuesday to deny the viral quote attributed to him.The purported statement said that the Mumbai batter was unhappy with the lack of clarity about his future and felt he was not getting the respect he deserved after his contributions to the Indian cricket:.
Suryakumar rejected the fake statement
Setting the record straight, Suryakumar declined to make any comments.“I have also noticed a statement circulating on the internet that has been falsely attributed to me. I would like to clarify that I have not made or authorized any such statement. Please do not believe or share unverified information,” Suryakumar posted on X.The star batter also clarified that there are no hard feelings despite the recent selection decisions.“I am very happy for the team and wish them nothing but the best, always. I know that the men give it everything, and they always have my full support. My support for Indian cricket, my teammates, and the game will always speak louder than the false words attributed to me,” he added, trying to end the speculation surrounding his future.His clarification came a day after the Indian selectors went ahead with their transition plans by naming Shreyas Iyer as captain for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, while Suryakumar was left out of the squad.
Special message for: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Suryakumar also reserved special praise for teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who recently scripted history by becoming India’s youngest international cricketer.The 15-year-old made his debut in the second T20I against England in 15 years and 99 days, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record.Congratulating the youngster, Suryakumar wrote: “A special word for Vaibhav – you are at the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey. Enjoy every moment and keep making the country proud.”
The selectors continued the youth-first approach
India’s squad for the Zimbabwe series shows the selectors’ continued emphasis on building for the future.Young pacers Yash Thakur and Ashok Sharma earned maiden T20I call-ups after impressive IPL campaigns, while left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey also received his first T20I selection after recently making his ODI debut.Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson was another notable omission, with Prabhsimran Singh preferred behind the stumps after an impressive season in the IPL. Samson has already lost his place in the playing XI to Sooryavanshi during the ongoing series in England after a series of low scores.The selectors also recalled Rinku Singh and declared pacer Mayank Yadav, while Shivam Dube replaced the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming series in England.