Suryakumar Yadav led India to victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Ricky Ponting praising his calm, supportive captaincy despite his own inconsistent batting.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting lauded Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership after India won the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, emphasizing the quiet strength of captaincy beyond on-field performance. Despite Yadav’s inconsistent form, Ponting highlighted his steady influence in supporting players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson through struggles. Samson’s resurgence—321 runs in five innings, including a 97* and two 89s—was credited to team trust, particularly the decision to retain him at the top of the order. Ponting called the leadership shown during adversity a key factor in India’s success, underscoring belief, communication, and emotional support as central to effective captaincy.