India head coach Gautam Gambhir believes his high-pressure role feels significantly easier in the T20 format thanks to the “calm leadership” of captain Suryakumar Yadav, who, according to him, “ticks every box” as a leader.

In a short clip shared by Star Sports, Gambhir said India is fortunate to have Suryakumar at the helm during the ongoing T20 World Cup, praising not just his on-field impact but his ability to manage people and situations.

“Surya has made my life a lot easier in this format. He is a phenomenal leader of men,” Gambhir said. “Not just because of what he does on the field or how he bats, but because of the way he connects with players, the way he communicates, and how relaxed he is out there.”

The former India opener highlighted Suryakumar’s composure as a major asset for the team environment, particularly during high-pressure moments.

“As a coach, you can think about a lot of other things because you know he’s going to keep the atmosphere calm. That’s something any coach would dream of,” Gambhir added.

India opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a 29-run win over the USA on Saturday, with Suryakumar playing a decisive role. The skipper struck a composed 84 off 49 balls, steadying the innings after an early top-order collapse against a spirited American side.

Gambhir was effusive in his praise, stressing that Suryakumar’s leadership qualities stand out even beyond his batting prowess.

“For me, Surya the player can be kept aside. Surya the leader has ticked every box,” he said. “He’s phenomenal, and it’s a great thing for the country to have someone like him leading the side because his heart is in the right place and he takes the right decisions, especially under pressure.”

(By PTI Inputs)

The 35-year-old Suryakumar, who was part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad two years ago, took over the captaincy shortly after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from international T20 cricket. India will next face Namibia on Thursday as they look to build momentum in the group stage.