T20 World Cup: Suryakumar encourages India to 'be courageous in tough situations'
'%20transform='translate(-56%20-679)%20translate(40%20141)%20translate(16%20538)'%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23000'%20fill-rule='nonzero'%20stroke='%23979797'%20stroke-width='.5'%20d='M6.608%200C2.964%200%200%202.99%200%206.667c0%203.676%202.964%206.666%206.608%206.666%203.644%200%206.608-2.99%206.608-6.666S10.252%200%206.608%200zm0%201.111c3.048%200%205.507%202.48%205.507%205.556%200%203.075-2.459%205.555-5.507%205.555-3.048%200-5.507-2.48-5.507-5.555%200-3.075%202.46-5.556%205.507-5.556zm-.55%201.111v5h3.854v-1.11H7.16v-3.89H6.058z'%20transform='translate(1.322%201.333)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Suryakumar Yadav has told his India team-mates to "be courageous in tough situations" during their T20 World Cup final against New Zealand on Sunday.
India edged past England in a semi-final thriller on Thursday, while New Zealand thrashed South Africa by nine wickets a day earlier.
This will be India's fourth men's T20 World Cup final (also in 2007, 2014 and 2024), the outright most of any team; a win here will see them become the first team to win the competition in consecutive editions and the first host nation to win the tournament.
However, India have lost each of their three games against New Zealand in the men's T20 World Cup, with the two sides last meeting each other in 2021.
Indeed, the Black Caps are one of two sides whom the Men in Blue have faced in the competition and never beaten (P2 L2 vs Sri Lanka).
India also lost at home in the final of the men's ODI World Cup in 2023, when Australia silenced the home crowd in Ahmedabad, the same venue of Sunday's final.
"We started this journey two years ago, and the circle has come back to the same stadium again where we left in 2023," Suryakumar said.
"Be courageous in tough situations – that's the simple message to the team.
Focused minds. One goal
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 7, 2026
The 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿 awaits #TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #Final | #MenInBlue | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/Xd5mADmg3F
"There are a lot of players in the dressing room who have played ICC tournaments, including our coach, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel. They have handled pressure situations in ICC events.
"This really helps, and chatting with them in the bus or over dinner, we talk about how to overcome tough situations in the game, and we find a solution.
"Such conversations are very important. Experience really matters in such lovely occasions and will matter the most.
"It is obviously a special feeling that I am going to lead tomorrow, and to be leading such a wonderful side into a final. That too on home soil.
"Of course, there are nerves. There will be butterflies in the stomach. But as I always say, if there is no pressure, there is no fun. So I'm also very excited."
