'Winning more important than my batting' - Suryakumar Yadav explains selfless reason for demoting himself in India vs Oman match

Divy Dubey

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'Winning more important than my batting' - Suryakumar Yadav explains selfless reason for demoting himself in India vs Oman match image

(getty)

India's unbeaten group-stage run at the Asia Cup ended with a comfortable win over Oman. But it was captain Suryakumar Yadav's decision off the field that drew as much attention as the action in the middle.

With qualification for the Super Fours already secured, Suryakumar chose to reshuffle the batting order - holding himself back to give others time in the middle. It was a move that underlined his team-first approach at a stage where personal milestones could have been tempting.

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Suryakumar Yadav on why he didn't bat against Oman

Speaking during a press conference, reported by RevSportz Hindi, Suryakumar explained that he wanted his teammates to get the kind of match practice they had been missing in earlier games.

"Our batters didn't get a lot of time in the middle in the first two matches. So, starting from Sanju, Hardik, Axar, even Dube and Tilak, it was important to give them exposure. Harshit is someone who can bat, and we wanted to see how he handles the last few overs. Even Arshdeep said he wanted to bat, and I told him, 'No problem, you can definitely go in.' But whether I bat or not, winning the game is more important," said Suryakumar.

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His comments highlighted the selfless reasoning behind the decision: prioritising preparation for teammates over his own opportunity to score.

India's depth on show before Super Fours

The reshuffled order worked well for India. Sanju Samson made a steady half-century while Abhishek Sharma blazed away in the powerplay.

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Tilak Varma, Axar Patel and Harshit Rana chipped in with cameos to push the total to 188/8. The runs proved enough as Oman fell 21 short despite fighting fifties from Kaleem and Mirza.

By giving his squad more time at the crease, Suryakumar ensured India head into the tougher Super Four stage with a better-prepared middle order.

His move might not appear on the scorecard, but it's the kind of call that reflects his leadership style: one that values collective progress over personal records.

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Divy Dubey

Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition. He has a passion for cricket and is an avid fan of football. His work spans culture, media, and digital trends. With a background in research and a curiosity-driven approach, he enjoys crafting thoughtful, engaging stories that invite readers to see everyday topics in a new light.