Suryakumar Yadav on batting heroics in 3rd T20I: Our captain said someone needs to put their hand up and win the match | Cricket News
India were 2-0 down in the five-match T20I series and eyeing a first bilateral defeat in the format since July 2021 and a first ever instance of three defeats in a single T20I series. Chasing 160, they’d lose Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first over on a wicket that offered little help to the batters and got slower as the game progressed.
But then, all of a sudden it looked all easy and light work for India as Suryakumar Yadav whipped his first ball for a four down the mid wicket boundary. Swiftly followed a pull over deep square leg for six.
The no. ICC T20I batter would make up for the recent disappointing outings in the India tour of West Indies as he navigated through everything the Windies through at him and notched up 83 runs off 44 deliveries. The shots? 52 percent of them behind square.
Form is temporary. Surya is permanent!
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“It was really important to be myself when I went in to bat in the powerplay, that’s what the team management also wanted,” Surya said post-match. “I have practised these (ramps and scoops) strokes a lot and I love doing that.”
With Shubman Gill also being removed from the equation in the powerplay, Surya added 87 runs for the third wicket off 50 deliveries. “We (himself and Tilak) have batted together for a long time, we both understand how each other bats and the way he batted, it gave me a lot of confidence. It was a great innings from him (Tilak) at the other end.”
Furthermore, Surya would describe the mood inside the dressing room ahead of a must-win game. “It was running on the back of my mind (that India had never lost three T20Is in a row) but at the same time we spoke in the team meeting, our captain said someone needs to put their hand up and win the match, glad I was able to do that.”
For the final two matches, India and West Indies will face off in Lauderhill, Florida on Friday and Saturday.
