India won the third and final T20 International against Sri Lanka thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s willingness to take chances at critical moments in the match, such as utilizing Rinku Singh in the penultimate over and himself in the last one, according to all-rounder Washington Sundar.
Suryakumar made some intriguing bowling adjustments towards the end of Sri Lanka’s innings to help India pull off a shock victory in a low-scoring match on Tuesday.
Chasing 138, Suryakumar brought on Rinku Singh in the penultimate over, who returned 1-0-3-2, and he came on in the final over to take a couple more wickets and stun Sri Lanka. With six wickets remaining, Sri Lanka was coasting toward an easy victory when they needed 12 runs from the final two overs.
Suryakumar’s four in the Super Over gave India the lead and allowed them to sweep the series. They reached the objective of three runs on the first ball itself. In four deliveries, Sri Lanka lost two wickets.
“Honestly, it’s amazing of him, amazing of his leadership skills to be honest because with 12 balls left and 12 runs to win and for him to bring Rinku on, especially when Kushal Perera is batting, and Rinku got him out and Surya then himself came in the last over and won the game for us,” Sundar told the media after the match.
“We all know he has a big heart when he goes out there to bat but also he has a big heart in terms of leadership as well. All the credits to him and it was amazing of him.”
Even though the hosts were in control of the run chase, Sundar claimed that Suryakumar was the one who insisted that India needed to take wickets in the middle overs to keep pressure on Sri Lanka.
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“Surya kept telling us that one or two wickets in between game would definitely change and obviously in these kind of games, low scoring games, even run-a-ball would put a lot of pressure on the batsmen because they need to get the job done especially when the wicket has something for the bowler,” he said.
“He kept saying that with one or two wickets in the middle, especially in the middle overs between 11 to 15, we will definitely be in the game and exactly that’s what happened.
“I hope the audience enjoyed the game because you won’t see such games every now and then but to be a part of this kind of a game and to be a part of this game honestly feels great,” he added.
Sundar, who amassed a score of 25 at bat and claimed two wickets with the ball, expressed his astonishment at being asked to bowl the Super Over and his satisfaction at having succeeded for his nation.
“Honestly I had no idea that I was going to bowl but after the batsmen walked out to bat, Surya just turned behind to look and he said ‘Washy you are on’,” Sundar recalled.
“I was very happy to be honest when captain wants you to bowl in tough situations, especially in Super Over, I thought it was a great opportunity for me to step up and win the game for my country and thank God things went well,” he added.
The post Washington Sundar Hails Suryakumar Yadav’s ‘Big-Hearted’ Leadership: A Game-Changer for the Team appeared first on Cricket Country.
