Captain Suryakumar, other players enjoy jungle safari at Pench ahead of Nagpur T20 vs NZ

Captain Suryakumar Yadav along with four other members of the Indian T20 squad enjoyed a jungle safari at Pench Tiger Reserve on Monday, just ahead of the opening T20 match against New Zealand scheduled in Nagpur on January 21 . The players were on a private visit to the reserve, which spreads across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra , offering them a refreshing break before the start of the five-match series.

Along with Suryakumar, wicketkeepers Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan , batter Rinku Singh , and spinner Ravi Bishnoi took part in the safari. Pench Tiger Reserve Field Director J Deva Prasad said the players arrived in Seoni on Saturday night and stayed at a resort before heading into the forest for the safari on Monday morning.

Forest department officials said the cricketers travelled through the reserve in an open jeep , interacted with visitors, clicked pictures with fans, and accepted greetings from tourists. During the safari, the group reportedly spotted leopards and other wildlife , though they did not manage to see a tiger.

Adding a special touch to the visit, Pench wildlife photographer Rituraj Rahi Jaiswal said he presented Suryakumar with an annual calendar featuring photographs of tigers, leopards, and other wildlife . The players later shared photos and videos from the safari on social media platforms, drawing attention to Pench as one of central India’s popular wildlife destinations.

Officials also noted that Suryakumar had earlier visited the Pench Tiger Reserve on February 15, 2025 . The safari comes as Team India’s focus shifts from ODIs to T20s after the recently concluded three-match ODI series against New Zealand ended in Indore on Sunday, where India lost the series 2–1 .