T20 World Cup-Winning Captain Suryakumar Yadav Reveals His First Salary: Just ₹15,000

Suryakumar Yadav has opened up about his humble beginnings in cricket, revealing that his first earnings from the sport were just ₹15,000. During a conversation with former India cricketer Aakash Chopra, the Indian batter recalled receiving the amount while playing his first U-15 tour for Mumbai. According to Suryakumar, the ₹15,000 was meant to cover the entire tour. At that stage of his career, he did not have a bat sponsor, so he used his earnings to purchase cricket equipment.

His First Cricket Earnings

Looking back at his early days, Suryakumar said he believes the amount was around ₹15,000 when he represented Mumbai at the U-15 level for the first time. Since the payment covered the complete tour, it was an important source of support for a young player beginning his cricket journey. Rather than spending the money on personal needs, Suryakumar put the entire amount back into cricket by purchasing the equipment he needed.

From Young Mumbai Player to T20 World Cup Captain

Suryakumar's early cricket journey has since taken him to the highest level of the game. According to the source, India won the 2026 T20 World Cup under his captaincy, adding to the country's previous T20 World Cup triumphs in 2007 under MS Dhoni and 2024 under Rohit Sharma. The 35-year-old, however, is currently going through a challenging phase at international level. A few months after leading India to the T20 World Cup title, he was left out of the national T20 side, with his form and the two-year cycle leading into the next global event cited as factors.

Batting Form Has Also Been a Concern

Suryakumar's consistency with the bat has also come under scrutiny. The source notes that he had a difficult IPL campaign with Mumbai Indians, adding to the challenges surrounding his current international position. Despite the setbacks, Suryakumar remains focused on working hard and earning another opportunity with India. Asked about a possible comeback, he said he is continuing to put in the effort and hopes things eventually fall into place.

Comeback Door Still Open

Suryakumar remains an important part of the Mumbai Indians setup, while his last Test and ODI appearances for India came in 2023. A BCCI source cited in the report said the door to an India comeback has not been completely closed. Consistent performances in domestic cricket could bring him back into contention for selection.