India’s new T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav lauded his team’s character after pulling off a victory from the jaws of defeat in the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Tuesday (July 31).
The visitors won the game in the Super Over despite Sri Lanka needing just 23 runs from four overs with eight wickets in hand.
However, Washington Sundar (2/23), Rinku Singh (2/3) and Suryakumar (2/5) turned the game upside down, restricting the hosts to 137/8 in their stipulated 20 overs.
In the Super Over, Sundar once again showed his brilliance as he dismissed Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka in just three balls conceding just two runs, which was chased down by the Indian captain on the first delivery itself.
“More than the last over, I feel when we were around 30/4 and 48/5, how the boys showed character in the middle and took the game away from them ... I felt 140 was a par score on that track. When we were going in during fielding session I told them, 'I have seen such kind of games. If we put our heart in for one and a half hours, we can pull it off.' If you are enjoying hitting 200-220s and winning games, you should enjoy 30/4 and 70/5 as well because that creates balance in your life and that's how you move on and just be humble,” Suryakumar said in the post-match presentation.
The captain was also appreciative of the skills level his team possesses, stating that it makes the job easy for him.
“The amount of skill they have, self confidence what they bring into the table, it makes my job very easy. The positivity they have on the ground and in the dressing room, the care for each other what they show is unbelievable. After the last game, I said few boys are going to rest and they were the first ones to tell me, 'Okay we would rest and you can give opportunities to others.' That shows the character of the team and how happy they are for others' performance as well. They have made my job easy. When I go into bat, I have little pressure, I just enjoy to express myself. I said before the series, I don't want to be the captain, I want to be a leader,” he added.
With this thrilling victory, India completed 3-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka in the T20I series. The two teams will now square off in a three-match ODI series, starting on August 2 in Colombo.
