Rohit Sharma backed Suryakumar Yadav after Suryakumar was dropped from India's T20I side and replaced as captain. Speaking on the sidelines of a T20 Mumbai League match at the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit praised Suryakumar's efforts and comeback even at the age of 31. Suryakumar has not only lost his captaincy but also been entirely dropped from the T20 setup after his dry patch in the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and IPL 2026. Shreyas Iyer has replaced him as captain and will lead the squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, as well as the 2026 Asian Games. 

"He made his India debut at 31, I think, if I'm not wrong. Which means that he never gave up. He always wanted to be in the fight, and when it came, he wanted to grab it with both hands, and he did it,” said Rohit Sharma during the ongoing Mumbai T20 league.

Surya Kumar Yadav rose to fame in limited overs after debuting at the age of 31, amassing 3272 runs in 113 matches at a staggering strike rate of 162.95. He was the captain under whom India clinched their third T20 World Cup title, although he had a disappointing campaign with his willow.

Suryakumar Yadav congratulates Shreyas Iyer on becoming India’s new T20 Skipper

Speaking at the toss for Triumphs Knights MNE vs SoBo Mumbai Falcons, T20 Mumbai 2026, Suryakumar showed his humility and class while reacting to Iyer's appointment as India's new T20I captain, replacing him, saying he was delighted for his long-time Mumbai teammate. The two were also seen sharing a hug. 

“I am so happy for Shreyas for becoming the captain of the Indian T20 team. We have played all our cricket together at Mumbai, and it feels amazing to witness the last three T20 captains of India have been from Mumbai,” said Suryakumar Yadav

Hours after getting dropped and losing captaincy, Suryakumar slammed 48 off just 24 deliveries with the help of 3 fours and 4 sixes in the Mubai T20 League.