In a thrilling conclusion to the third and final Test of the series in Pallekele, India pulled off an incredible victory over Sri Lanka, completing a 3-0 clean sweep.
With six wickets remaining and only 9 runs needed from the final two overs, the hosts’ fortunes took a surprising turn when skipper Suryakumar Yadav gave the ball to Rinku Singh, a player who had never bowled in his 23 T20I matches.
Rinku Singh made an unexpected and dangerous move by entering the bowling attack on a surface that favours spin. But it proved to be a brilliant move.
Rinku sent a dot ball to Kusal Perera, who attempted a reverse-slog but could not make it work. The high stakes of the situation were evident from head coach Gautam Gambhir’s ‘oohh’ reaction, which was captured on camera. The anxiety was evident.
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When Rinku got his second ball, things started to change. He delivered a short delivery that Perera mishandled, giving him a top edge. With a quick step to the off-side, Rinku completed a caught-and-bowled dismissal to claim his first-ever T20I wicket.
Gambhit’s expression brightened with this important breakthrough, an uncommon occurrence under such stressful conditions.
But Rinku’s demise didn’t end there. He took Ramesh Mendis’s wicket on the last delivery, concluding the over with impressive 2 for 3. The equation was significantly changed by his two wickets and three runs conceded, leaving Sri Lanka requiring six runs from the final over.
It was left to Suryakumar to bowl the final over. With steely nerves, he held the hosts to a minimum and sent the game into a Super Over.
With a dramatic victory in the Super Over, India will be remembered for the unexpected heroism of Rinku Singh and the audacious captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.
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