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Team India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, said he is playing all red-ball domestic competitions back home to stay in line for a Test comeback.

Having made just one appearance in the whites for India (during the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year), Surya admits thinking about returning to the Test side.

Although his T20 stature has grown with time, a Test call-up has remained elusive, which he wishes to work on. 

The right-handed batter played a game for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy this season and featured for India B in the Duleep Trophy, though without tasting success in both. 

“When the time comes, I will make a Test comeback. I am playing all the domestic tournaments, be it red-ball or white-ball.

I don't miss any game. If that [Test comeback] has to happen, it will happen,” Suryakumar said ahead of the Durban T20I.

Meanwhile, a close ally of India ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar, backed the batting veteran to come good in the upcoming Test series Down Under.
 
Currently on national duty in South Africa for the four-match T20Is beginning on November 8 in Durban, SKY, as fans call him, revealed taking a leaf out of ‘leader’ Rohit Sharma’s book.

"I know how he [Rohit] treats the players, what he wants from them. So that route I have also taken because he's been very successful recently," he said.

"When I am on the ground, I keep noticing how his body language is, how calm he is under pressure situations, how he talks to the bowlers, how he treats everyone on the field and off the field."

"Most importantly, from a leader, you expect how much time he is spending with you to have that comfort.

I try to replicate that. When I am not on the ground, I try and spend time with my teammates, have a meal with them, travel together,” Suryakumar continued.

SKY a different captain
SKY is perhaps India’s best batter in this format and among the top three in the world.

His attacking form of play has helped him stay ahead of his contemporaries however, Surya’s captaincy style is completely contrasting to his idea of batting in T20Is.

"You have to understand what's happening around, what's going on in their [the players'] minds, and it is very important to give them that comfort," he said.

"Everyone has different skill set, and they also want to come out and express themselves.

So that freedom is very important when they get onto the field, and that is what I try and give."

"Whatever is running in their mind, I listen to them carefully.

Off the field, I try and spend a lot of time with them to understand their strengths, who can deliver for me in pressure and current situations, and that's how I am on the field."

"See, this format is such that if you keep playing, you keep learning, and it's so fast on the field.

By the time you blink your eye, the game is over.

So that freedom and clarity is very important when you play this format on the field."