India’s new T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, celebrated a significant milestone by leading his team to a series victory against Sri Lanka. The Men in Blue achieved a clean sweep, winning all the matches, including a nail-biting finish in the third game, which was decided by a super over.
The final match of the series featured some unexpected decisions from the Indian management, most notably the choice to utilize Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav as bowlers in the crucial last two overs of Sri Lanka’s innings. This bold strategy paid off, as the duo successfully defended nine runs, showcasing their versatility and tactical acumen.
‘For a right-hander bowling to a left-hander, it is always difficult for the batter’ – Suryakumar Yadav
Rinku Singh was entrusted with the pivotal 19th over and delivered a remarkable performance. He conceded just three runs and claimed two vital wickets, breaking the backbone of Sri Lanka’s batting lineup and restricting them to 137. His efforts were instrumental in pushing the game to a super over, where India ultimately triumphed.
Reflecting on this decision, Suryakumar Yadav explained his rationale for assigning the critical over to Rinku. “I felt Rinku was better suited for that wicket because I have seen him bowling and I made him practice a lot at the nets. I felt it was right and that is why I took that call. I knew the 19th over has always been difficult for Indian cricket (laughs). That is why I gave the responsibility to Rinku. For a right-hander bowling to a left-hander, it is always difficult for the batter. It was great that he made the best use of his skill and made my work easy because now I have one more bowling option going forward,” Yadav stated.
The gamble by Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir to deploy Rinku Singh in the death overs has provided India with a promising new bowling option.
Following their impressive T20I series victory, the Indian team will now prepare for a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, set to begin on August 2 in Colombo. The team aims to continue their winning momentum and further establish their dominance in the limited-overs format.
