Team India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav lauded the all-round performance put on by his players to register a 43-run win in the series opener against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium on Saturday, July 27. However, the newly appointed captain led from the front with a brisk half-century while the bowlers managed to defend the massive total of 213-7 as well. During the run chase, Sri Lanka were
cruising at 140-1 after 14 overs, on the back of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis’ heroics at the top of the order.
However, Team India bounced back well after inducing a collapse. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 170 with four balls to spare. One of the decisive moments in the game occurred when Suryakumar Yadav surprisingly handed the ball to Riyan Parag in the 17th over with Sri Lanka requiring 56 runs as well and he did wonders.
“I have seen Parag bowl before in the IPL, in the nets as well. I mentioned in the press conference as well that he has an X-Factor. If batters keep dishing out such tasty balls and help like this on the ground, then my job will be easy as captain,” Suryakuamr Yadav said post-match in a video released by the BCCI. “There is so much batting depth, so much skill in everyone. So you know that even if your skill does not work out one day, the rest will handle it. I don’t want to be a captain, I want to be a leader,” he added.
However, there were questions regarding Riyan Parag’s inclusion in the playing XI considering that the likes of Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube were dropped despite being available. While he could not make an impact with the bat, scoring only seven runs off six deliveries before being trapped LBW by Matheesha Pathirana, Parag did well with the ball.
“I love bowling. I bowl as much as I can behind the scenes. There was a lot of communication in the nets, as to when I could be brought on to bowl and how to go about it. I was prepared to bowl in such a stage, I had a talk with Gautam sir as well regarding how to bowl if I have to bowl the 16th or the 17th over. The boys made it easy for me, I just had to bowl stump-to-stump, the ball was turning as well,” Riyan Parag said in the video released by BCCI.
