India captain Surya Kumar Yadav said the squad is focused on collective goals rather than individual milestones as the team prepares for the T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Saturday at 10: 00 a. m. ET, a stance he and head coach Gautam Gambhir have reinforced ahead of the match.
Surya Kumar Yadav on Gambhir’s removal of personal milestones
Surya Kumar Yadav told reporters on Saturday that Gambhir “is not one bit bothered about personal milestones, and that it’s all about the team’s needs. ” He said the coaching staff and players have adopted a culture where every contribution counts, and that removing the emphasis on personal scores spreads positivity within the camp.
Gautam Gambhir’s World Cup experience shaping the dressing room
Suryakumar credited Gambhir’s experience in past World Cups for shaping the team’s approach. He noted Gambhir’s history of stepping up in finals and said, “Unka bas chale, toh wo he pad pehen ke aa jaye (If he gets his way, then he would himself come out to bat). ” Suryakumar added that Gambhir’s mantra is to “take contributions from every player, ” stressing that cricket requires multiple contributors to win a trophy.
Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel in selection and match plans
After the Super 8s win over the West Indies, Sanju Samson hit an unbeaten 97 and Gambhir highlighted Shivam Dube’s two boundaries in the penultimate over as pivotal contributions. Suryakumar said selection decisions are made jointly by him and Gambhir and described how they inform players about specific roles: “The tough calls are taken by us both. We need to assess how the team would benefit from adding one player. “
He gave the example of Axar Patel, saying there was a clear conversation around favourable match-ups against off-spinners when selection choices were discussed. On Sanju Samson specifically, Suryakumar said, “Sanju Samson’s inclusion was a positive call. He was doing the hard work when he was not in the playing XI. He is bearing the fruit of his hard work. “
Tilak’s late acceleration was also singled out as the type of contribution Gambhir values: Suryakumar pointed to a 21-run cameo in 7 balls and equated that impact to a fifty or a century in importance for the team.
For now, the captain reiterated that the objective remains the same: players must contribute in whatever way benefits the team most, and the leadership will continue to make selection and role decisions together.
The T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium is scheduled to start Saturday at 7: 30 p. m. ET.
