'Ye ladka haath mein nahi aayega': Suryakumar Yadav, son of a BARC engineer, recalls how he failed in academics but found success in cricket

India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav has found success where it once eluded him, in percentages. While he struggled academically during his school and college years, he now boasts an impressive 80 per cent win rate as captain of the national T20 side.

“I feel that the percentage I tried to achieve in school and college by studying, I'm getting that today in cricket here,” he said.

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Suryakumar Yadav Leads India to Historic T20 World Cup Defence

Fresh from leading the India national cricket team to a historic defence of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup title, Suryakumar has delivered remarkable results since taking over the captaincy in 2024.

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Out of 52 matches, India have won 42 under his leadership, giving him a strong 80 per cent success rate in the format.

Suryakumar Yadav Reflects on Winning Mentality

Despite the impressive numbers, Suryakumar remains grounded and focused on performance rather than statistics.

“There, I could never cross 50–60 per cent. But definitely, it feels good to hear this here. Although I don't pay much attention to stats, nobody likes to lose in any game. I also love winning all the games,” he added.

Family Support Behind Suryakumar Yadav’s Journey

Suryakumar credited his family’s role in shaping his journey. His father, Ashok Kumar Yadav, was an electrical engineer at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and initially encouraged him to focus on studies.

“My family tried a lot to educate me first, but in a short time they got the idea that this boy is not interested in studies,” he recalled.

Suryakumar Yadav Backed to Follow His Passion

Recognising his passion for cricket, his family chose to support his ambitions instead of forcing academics.

“But their support was always there in sports because they could see that I was enjoying it. So they said, ‘Okay, go play. If nothing happens later, then we are here to take care of it’,” he said.

Suryakumar Yadav Proves Passion Can Outshine Academics

The Mumbai-born cricketer ensured he never needed a fallback plan. With consistent performances and a winning mindset, he has emerged as one of India’s most reliable T20 leaders.

His journey highlights that success does not always follow a traditional academic path, and that passion, when backed with determination, can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Inputs from PTI