Suryakumar Yadav Visits Lalbaugcha Raja, Reflects on Powerful Wishes

Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav visited the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Pandal during Ganeshotsav, sharing his belief in the power of wishes made there. He reflected on his successful cricketing journey, including leading India to T20 World Cup victories, but also faced recent changes as he was dropped from the T20I squad for the upcoming UK tour. His insights into the significance of his visits and the impact of his performance on team selection provide a compelling narrative for cricket fans.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 16, 2026, 22:36 IST

Suryakumar's Visit to Lalbaugcha Raja

On Wednesday, Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav paid a visit to the renowned Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Pandal in Mumbai, where he participated in the Ganeshotsav festivities. During his interaction with the media, Suryakumar, who captained India to victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, expressed his belief in the strength of the wishes made at this sacred site. He shared that he has been visiting Lalbaugcha Raja for approximately five to six years and recalled how prayers made there have been fulfilled, including a personal wish from his family for a daughter last year, which prompted their return to express gratitude.

He remarked, "It's a wonderful experience. I've been coming here for the last five or six years. I once noticed a note predicting India's World Cup win in 2024. When I returned in 2025, someone had written that under my leadership, we would win the World Cup in India in 2026. The wishes here hold great power. Last year, we prayed for a daughter, and we were blessed with one, so we returned to give thanks."

From World Cup Success to Team Changes

Suryakumar has reached numerous milestones throughout his career, including being named the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year in both 2022 and 2023. He achieved the top spot in the ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings in October 2022, amassing an impressive 910 rating points in January 2023, one of the highest ratings in the format's history. He played a pivotal role in India's triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and subsequently led the team to victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, making India the first nation to defend the title successfully. Under his leadership, India also clinched the T20 Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE.

However, following the 2026 T20 World Cup victory, Suryakumar was excluded from the T20I squad for the upcoming tour to the UK, where matches against Ireland and England are scheduled. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the new T20I captain after his successful stint with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL. Despite his remarkable captaincy, Suryakumar's recent decline in batting performance is believed to have significantly influenced his omission from the team.