Suryakumar Yadav’s knack for making bold decisions at critical moments was key to India’s victory in the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka, according to all-rounder Washington Sundar. Suryakumar’s innovative strategies, particularly his unexpected bowling changes in the closing overs, proved pivotal in securing the win. In the low-scoring match on Tuesday, India defended a modest total of 137 runs. With Sri Lanka needing just 12 runs from the last two overs and having six wickets in hand, the game seemed to be slipping away from India.
However, Suryakumar’s decision to introduce Rinku Singh in the penultimate over-turned the tide. Rinku bowled a sensational over, conceding only three runs and taking two crucial wickets, including the well-set Kusal Perera. Suryakumar then took the bold step of bowling the final over himself, where he claimed two more wickets, effectively stifling Sri Lanka’s chase and pushing the game into a Super Over.
In the Super Over, Sri Lanka could only manage two runs, losing two wickets in just four balls. India then easily chased down the target on the first ball, with Suryakumar hitting a boundary to secure a series clean sweep.
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“Honestly, it’s amazing of him, amazing of his leadership skills to be honest because with 12 balls left and 12 runs to win, for him to bring Rinku on, especially when Kusal Perera is batting, and Rinku got him out. Then Surya himself came in the last over and won the game for us,” Washington Sundar said in the post-match press conference. “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 credit to him.”
Washington Sundar highlighted that Suryakumar’s insistence on taking wickets during the middle overs was crucial. “Surya kept telling us that one or two wickets in between games would definitely change the game, especially in these low-scoring games where even run-a-ball can put a lot of pressure on the batsmen. He kept saying that one or two wickets in the middle, especially between overs 11 to 15, would definitely keep us in the game, and that’s exactly what happened,” Sundar explained.
Reflecting on the thrilling match, Washington Sundar added, “I hope the audience enjoyed the game because you don’t see such games every now and then. To be a part of this game honestly feels great.”
Washington Sundar, who contributed 25 runs with the bat and took two wickets with the ball, also shared his surprise at being asked to bowl the Super Over.
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“Honestly, I had no idea that I was going to bowl, but after the batsmen walked out to bat, Surya just turned behind and said, ‘Washy, you are on.’ I was very happy. When the captain wants you to bowl in tough situations, especially in the 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.”
Suryakumar’s bold captaincy and his team’s execution under pressure highlighted a memorable win for India, showcasing not just individual brilliance but also collective resilience.
