Surayakumar Yadav reveals T20 World Cup 2026 plans, says ‘we are not dealing…’ | Cricket News

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Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav believes that the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia will play an important role in India’s preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup. (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav believes that the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia will play an important role in India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026. India, who recently lost the three-match ODI series 1-2, will now focus on the shorter format with the T20Is starting on Wednesday.The first match will be played in Canberra, followed by the second in Melbourne on October 31, the third in Hobart at Bellerive Oval on November 2, the fourth in Gold Coast at Bill Pippen Oval on November 6 and the fifth and final T20I in Brisbane on November 8.

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Speaking ahead of the series opener, Suryakumar said the team was approaching the tour as an extension of its ongoing T20 process rather than treating it as a separate overseas challenge.“There is not much change in the combination. Last time we went to South Africa, there too we played with one fast bowler, one all-rounder and three spinners. So the conditions are similar – bouncy tracks,” Suryakumar said.He further explained that India’s preparations for the T20 World Cup had already started earlier this year.

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“Our preparation (for the 2026 T20 World Cup) obviously started with the Asia Cup. Because since then, we started playing T20s. And it will continue like that,” he said.Even though most of India’s upcoming T20 assignments will be in Asian conditions, Suryakumar stressed that the team’s mindset remains unchanged. “We don’t look like we have come to play in a foreign country. So we will look at this series in a different way. We will look at it in the same way. It is a preparation for the World Cup,” he added.Describing Australia as both “beautiful” and “challenging”, Suryakumar said: “It is a beautiful country to play cricket. And it’s also quite difficult. So I’m sure it will be a good thing.Suryakumar also shared an update on Shreyas Iyer, who was in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Sydney hospital after suffering a spleen laceration, saying the hitter was stable and responding to messages over the phone.Iyer was injured while catching Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carry during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He was immediately taken to hospital for further evaluation and then admitted to intensive care.“We spoke to him. At least the first day, when we found out he was injured, I called him first. Then I learned he didn’t have a phone. Then I called my physio, Kamlesh. He told me he was stable. On the first day, you can’t be sure of anything.“We have been talking to him for two days now. He is answering. If he is answering the phone, it means he is stable. And the doctor is also there with him. But he will be under surveillance in the next few days. So it is looking good. But he has answered, so it is good,” Suryakumar said ahead of the first T20I against Australia.“He answered. If he answers the phone, that means he is stable. And the doctor is also there with him. But he will be under surveillance for the next few days. So it looks good. But he answered, so that’s good,” he added.