India captain Suryakumar Yadav has addressed the chatter surrounding his fitness, firmly rejecting claims that he has been dealing with a wrist injury. The Mumbai Indians batter said the rumours don’t hold up, pointing out that his most recognisable shots—particularly his flicks—are heavily reliant on wrist action and precise coordination between his eyes and hands.
Yadav and Mumbai Indians endured a tough IPL 2026 season, with the franchise failing to book a playoff berth. MI also dropped their most recent two matches, and Suryakumar’s form across the campaign was inconsistent, adding fuel to the criticism that followed both his performances and the team’s results.
Speaking to the broadcasters ahead of MI’s final league match against Rajasthan Royals, a game that MI lost, the India captain tried to clear the air. He said the people spreading the injury theory either “don’t understand cricket” or are “pure physios,” arguing that if he truly had a wrist problem, he wouldn’t have been able to execute the practice and match shots he has been working on—flick shots included—because those are “completely wrist-based” and depend on hand-eye timing.
At the same time, he made it clear that he doesn’t plan to spend much mental energy on speculation. Yadav explained that there’s little he can do about such talk because it falls outside his control, and he therefore chooses not to dwell on it.
Despite the scrutiny that followed his IPL 2026 output, Yadav insisted that the setbacks haven’t changed the way he approaches his work. He said he has kept pushing all season, just as he did at the start of the year. He highlighted that he was named Player of the Series during the New Zealand leg, followed by what he described as a strong World Cup for him personally. Then came the IPL, where he didn’t score runs, yet he claimed he never stopped putting in the effort.
For Yadav, the focus remains on controlling what he can—his training, preparation, and execution. He stressed that results are never guaranteed, but hard work is always within reach. “So I keep working hard and try to put my best foot forward,” he said, adding that if success arrives, it’s a bonus, and if it doesn’t, the team will simply return to the drawing board and work harder again. He also remarked that “God is watching,” suggesting that rewards will come eventually.
The comments come during a period of wider debate about his future as India’s T20 skipper. Even though he led the side to the T20 World Cup title this year, some supporters believe the team management should consider alternative options, with names such as Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill frequently mentioned in discussions.
