The 2023 ODI final loss is now well and truly a thing of the past.<\/p>\n
\u201c(I\u2019m) very happy. It will take a little bit of time to sink in. (We) have just come out of a good game at home. When we wake up tomorrow, it will be a special feeling,\u201d the India captain said after recording a 96-run win against New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Suryakumar was delighted with the team\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was important to sit together and understand what this team demands. Understanding their responsibilities, chipping in at the right time, talking to each player when he is not doing well\u2014that is more important for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen someone is not okay, you try to spend time with him, take him out for dinners, talk to him, because those are the players who will do something special for you when the time comes. Like how Abhishek (Sharma) did just now, and Sanju (Samson) did in the last three games. I think freedom of speech in the dressing room is very important. If you don\u2019t listen to everyone, you can\u2019t take everyone together and win a trophy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Watch the full press conference here:<\/i><\/p>\n
Suryakumar also hinted that the Los Angeles Summer Games of 2028 were part of his plans. \u201cDefinitely the next goal is an Olympic gold and also the T20 World Cup that year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The ever-smiling captain also looked back at the time he took over the reins of the T20I side from Rohit Sharma. He said, \u201cWhen I started leading this amazing team, it was a very special feeling because I knew we were going to play the T20 World Cup in India after two years. And no team had ever won on home soil. When you play any tournament in India, there is a different vibe, a different excitement. The way we played in this T20 World Cup is the way we always wanted to play.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old also reserved praise for coach Gautam Gambhir, who was sittinbeside the skipper at the press conference.<\/p>\n
![\"Gautam](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/o36a3j\/article70721082.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/DSC_6740.jpg\" "\\"Gautam")
<\/p>\n\n | Photo Credit:
\n EMMANUAL YOGINI\n <\/p>\n
![\"lightbox-info\"\/](\"https:\/\/assetsss.thehindu.com\/theme\/images\/SSRX\/lightbox-info.svg\")
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Gautam Gambhir (second from left), who had won the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup as a player in 2007, lifted the trophy as a coach 19 years later, in Ahmedabad on March 8.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n EMMANUAL YOGINI\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
He said, \u201cI knew Gauti bhai\u2019s expectations of me. There were so many times when we were both picking a team of 14 players and still ended up picking the same people. The camaraderie was always set. There have been no arguments because we were always focussed on what is beneficial for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gambhir had a long list of people to thank.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cI should dedicate this trophy to Rahul (Dravid) bhai and (VVS) Laxman. Indian cricket is in such good shape because of Rahul bhai. Laxman has unconditionally done so much for the game, especially from behind the doors, because (the BCCI) CoE remains the pipeline. Third is Ajit Agarkar because he does take a lot of flak for the amount of honesty he\u2019s worked with.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd last but not the least, I have to thank Jay Shah, because not many people have actually called me when I went through the lowest moments in my tenure\u2014whether it was after New Zealand or South Africa. And I have to thank him for trusting me with this job. Until these guys are there, I think Indian cricket is in very, very safe hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suryakumar and Gambhir leave the hall knowing it is time for the party to rage long into the good night. They would want to soak in the moment until yet another T20 carnival \u2014 the Indian Premier League \u2014 swoops in about three weeks.<\/p>\n
Published on Mar 09, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n