A sensational T20I game in Pallekele saw India crawl back to level in a Super Over thanks to their punter Suryakumar Yadav.
Sri Lanka were set a target of 138, and they looked like they could achieve the target with little fuss when Suryakumar brought on the inexperienced Rinku Singh to bowl the final but one before the last.
Rinku’s restricted spell, especially the wickets of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, changed the match’s complexion. Suryakumar then came to bowl the last over, which proved to be vital; he took two wickets to confine Sri Lanka to 137/8, thereby causing it to go for a Super Over.
During the Super Over, the Indian team and New Zealand team were leveled at 5-5, the bowler who was assigned to bowl was an unsuspecting Washington Sundar.
Sundar did not disappoint and trapped Kusal Perera and Nissanka just when Sri Lanka improved its chances, reaching a low total of 3. Suryakumar then backed up to win the match and get a boundary with the batsman’s first delivery.
‘Honestly, it’s amazing of him, amazing of his leadership skills,’ said Sundar, appreciating Suryakumar’s captaincy skills and showing how decisive he was. The off-spinner also appreciated his skipper’s leadership skills, saying Suryakumar always focused on taking out the opposition’s big fish in the Powerplay phase.
Thus, Suryakumar’s raw talent, combined with his flexibility of mind and nerves of steel, played a decisive role in India’s triumph in the closely fought match, thus paving the way for him as one of the main contenders for the team’s batting leader.
