Suryakumar Yadav and wife visit Tirumala Temple on Vaikuntha Ekadashi ahead of T20 World Cup
India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and his wife Devisha Shetty visited the revered Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi. The couple sought blessings from Lord Venkateswara and passed through the sacred Vaikuntha Dwaram (celestial gate) as part of the traditional rituals, ahead of India’s crucial T20I assignments in the new year.
Suryakumar and Devisha receive traditional blessings
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials made special arrangements for Suryakumar and Devisha’s darshan, facilitating their visit to the temple atop the sacred hill. Dressed in traditional attire, the couple engaged humbly in the rituals, showcasing the deep cultural and spiritual values that many Indian athletes uphold despite their demanding professional schedules.
Following their darshan, the couple received blessings from the priests at the Ranganayakulavari Mandapam inside the temple. They were then offered Tirtha Prasadam (holy water) and presented with the Lord’s vestments, as is customary for distinguished visitors.
Their visit was warmly received by devotees and temple staff alike, with many fans capturing glimpses of the star cricketer and his wife during their spiritual sojourn.
Tilak Varma also visits Tirumala for Lord’s blessings
India batter Tilak Varma also visited the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple on Tuesday to seek the Lord’s blessings ahead of the T20 World Cup. He was accompanied by BCCI Apex Council member and former first-class cricketer V. Chamundeswaranath.
Tilak’s visit to Tirupati has proven fortuitous in the past. The left-hander visited the divine shrine in August 2025 before the start of the ACC Asia Cup, where his crucial 69-run innings guided India to victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.
As India look to defend their T20 World Cup crown, Tilak’s spiritual visit may once again serve as a lucky charm in what promises to be an intense and closely contested tournament.
Suryakumar and Tilak gear up for New Zealand T20Is
Suryakumar’s most recent outing for India was in the T20I series against South Africa, where he led the Men in Blue to a commanding 3-1 victory over the Proteas. He will next be seen leading the side in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January 2026, which will serve as a crucial preparatory assignment for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7.
Tilak Varma also featured prominently in the South Africa series, playing key innings to help India secure the series win.
India enter T20 World Cup as defending champions
India will enter the T20 World Cup as defending champions, having won the 2024 edition in Barbados after defeating South Africa in a thrilling final. The tournament will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the Men in Blue will be determined to retain the trophy on home soil.