‘Hardik se puchhna padega’: Suryakumar Yadav defers to Mumbai Indians hierarchy as ‘annoying’ Tilak Varma presses No. 3 query

Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma lit up a recent Star Sports segment with easy, unforced banter that felt more like a dressing-room exchange than a scripted interaction. Their appearance on Superstars Mastimania stood out for its natural humour and the comfort they share as teammates.

What made the moment click, however, was the subtext. When asked to reveal something about Tilak, Surya jokingly called him “irritating and annoying,” setting the tone. Tilak then flipped the script with a pointed question: whether he would get to bat at No. 3.

Surya’s response — that he was no longer captain in the IPL and Tilak would have to ask Hardik Pandya — landed perfectly because it wasn’t just a joke. It reflected the real decision-making dynamic at Mumbai Indians, where Hardik leads the side.

The exchange carried weight because of recent history. Under Surya’s leadership in India’s T20I setup, Tilak had pushed for the No. 3 role during a series against South Africa and delivered with a century, earning public backing from his captain. That context turned a light moment into something more layered — a nod to an ongoing conversation about roles, freedom, and trust.

It worked because it blended humour with reality: a glimpse into a partnership where on-field roles and off-field camaraderie flow seamlessly into each other.