Supporters of the Indian cricket team experienced heightened excitement as they witnessed T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav taking to the bowling crease for the 20th over against Sri Lanka, who required only 6 runs to secure victory. Until that point, Suryakumar had not bowled during the match; however, he delivered a remarkable final over in the 3rd T20I, conceding merely 5 runs and thereby compelling the match into a Super Over. Following Suryakumar’s impressive performance, fans took to social media to commend head coach Gautam Gambhir, proclaiming the dawn of a new era.
Ramesh Mendis and Kamindu Mendis were at the crease when Sri Lanka required just 6 runs to reach the target of 138 runs against India on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Suryakumar played a surprising innings to change the course of the match.
Here’s how the over went:
Ball 1: Dot
Ball 2: Kamindu Mendis Out
Ball 3: Maheesh Theekshana Out
Ball 4: 1 Run
Ball 5: 2 Runs
Ball 6: 2 Runs
Gautam Gambhir was also praised by numerous fans on social media for his role as the former mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders. He was particularly acknowledged for his successful bowling strategies, such as the choice to have Rinku Singh bowl in the 19th over.
The match concluded with the scores level, necessitating extra time, during which Sri Lanka could only accumulate 2 runs. India successfully met the Super Over target in a mere single delivery, as Suryakumar struck a boundary on the very first ball. Following the match, Suryakumar remarked that, rather than focusing on his final over, he believed the pivotal moment was the resilience displayed by the Indian batsmen after they had lost 5 wickets for just 48 runs.
“I believe that more than my last over, the critical moment was when we found ourselves at 30/4 and then 48/5. The way the team exhibited character during that phase and seized control of the match was remarkable. I considered 140 to be a competitive score on that pitch. During the fielding session, I encouraged the team by saying, ‘I have witnessed similar situations before. If we commit ourselves for one and a half hours, we can achieve victory.’”
If you find pleasure in achieving scores of 200-220 and securing victories, it is equally important to appreciate performances of 30/4 and 70/5, as they contribute to a well-rounded life and foster humility. The level of skill and self-assurance they exhibit simplifies my responsibilities significantly. Their positivity, both on the field and in the locker room, along with the mutual support they demonstrate, is truly remarkable, he remarked during the post-match presentation ceremony. With India having accomplished a clean sweep of 3-0 in the T20I series, attention now turns to the upcoming ODI series.
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