T20 World Cup final 2026 – Suryakumar Yadav’s message to the team – ‘Be courageous in tough situations’

What he will stress to his men is to be fearless.

“We started this journey two years ago, and the circle has come back to the same stadium again where we left in 2023,” Suryakumar said. “Be courageous in tough situations – that’s the simple message to the team.”

India will, of course, have learned from the 2023 ODI World Cup loss, but perhaps more importantly, have also since won two ICC trophies – the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy – since then. Suryakumar’s team arrives battle-hardened.

“There are a lot of players in the dressing room who have played ICC tournaments, including our coach, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel. They have handled pressure situations in ICC events. This really helps and chatting with them in the bus or over dinner, we talk about how to overcome tough situations in the game and we find a solution. Such conversations are very important. Experience really matters in such lovely occasions and will matter the most.”

As to the specific threats that New Zealand pose in particular, Suryakumar did not appear especially worried, announcing that he barely watched his opponents for the final play. It is possible New Zealand will bowl offspin in the powerplay, to target the left-hand batters at the top of India’s batting order. If that happens, India will back themselves to deal with it, their captain said.

“We haven’t discussed the offspin threat at all. On a given day, if any batter does well against a particular bowler, then it’s important to do that and do what the team requires. In the last game too, we saw there were two lefties against an offspinner but we batted well – Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube and even Tilak Varma. At this stage, I don’t think we need to think about it too much. If in the final if they bring on two spinners then we have to face them and I’m sure we’ll handle it.”

However, this is Suryakumar’s first major final as captain; India’s previous two ICC tournament wins came under Rohit Sharma. He conceded that there were some nervous flutters ahead of the occasion.

“It is obviously a special feeling that I am going to lead tomorrow, and to be leading such a wonderful side into a final. That too on home soil. Of course, there are nerves. There will be butterflies in the stomach. But as I always say, if there is no pressure, there is no fun. So I’m also very excited.”