India thumped Sri Lanka 3-0 in the recent T20I series thanks to a super over win in the third and final match in Kandy on Tuesday, July 30. India had won the first T20I by 43 runs on Saturday, and the second T20I by 7 wickets (DLS) on Sunday.
It was the first series win for India under the new regime of coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. It was an auspicious start for the T20 World champions and after the match, Gautam Gambhir gave a speech of motivation to the Indian players in the dressing room.
"Guys congratulations on a great series win. Congratulations to Surya as well, outstanding captaincy and more importantly with the bat as well. Guys, I asked for something before the start of the game and you delivered it. This is what happens when you keep fighting. You don't give up. This kind of game happens, and the only way these games can happen is when we keep fighting on every delivery and for every run.
And this was the example we keep getting better, we keep improving our skills as well, because we need to still get better at playing on wickets like these, because we might end up getting these kinds of wickets. So we should first assess the situation and conditions quickly and what is the par score as well. There is a lot of learning from this game, but more important than not this is a great series win,” Gambhir can be heard saying in a video posted by BCCI.
This series will be followed by a three-match ODI series to be played in Colombo’s RPS stadium from August 2nd onwards.
For the players who will not be a part of the ODI series, Gambhir said, "Some of the guys, who will not be part of the 50-over format, will have a longer break, you absolutely deserve it, but make sure when you come back for the Bangladesh series, keep your skills and specially the fitness levels high. You don't want to come for that series thinking that, okay, I can just turn up and probably deliver for the team. So make sure that from the fitness point of view, the fitness levels are right up there. Okay, congratulations once again, Hardik is going to wrap it up."
Hardik Pandya, who was rested for this match along with Rishabh Pant, Akshar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh, was given a chance to speak as well. Hardik Pandya will not be a part of the Indian ODI team for the Sri Lanka series.
Pandya said, "First of all, well done! I think in batting first, we were challenged, and conditions were difficult, but I think after losing those early wickets Shubman (Gill) and Riyan (Parag) the way they batted and created a partnership was brilliant. When you speak about situational awareness, I think that point of time, what you both did was very, very important. That gave us a platform to atleast reach to a decent total which our bowlers made sure to bowl at the right areas. Especially, I always emphasize the fact that the lower order has to come and chip in and I think Washi (Washington Sundar) and those 8 runs by Bishi (Ravi Bishnoi) were very important."
Suryakumar Yadav showed innovative thinking on a pitch-aiding spin, as he bowled Rinku Singh in the 19th over, and the bowler picked two wickets for three runs. Surya, then himself came to bowl the final over. He gave 5 runs and took 2 wickets as India managed to tie the match, defending 6 runs in the final over.
Suryakumar then handed the ball to Washington Sundar for the Super Over and Sundar dismissed both Lankan batters for just 2 runs. It was enough for India to win after Suryakumar hit a four on the first ball.
Pandya also lauded Suryakumar Yadav for his captaincy saying, "As Gauti bhai mentioned, Surya, well done on making sure that the way you rotated the bowlers, making sure, showing faith in the bowlers, which you gave in the last couple of overs. That was brilliant. And as a bowling group, obviously, it was fantastic everyone chipped in. Washi, well-done buddy. When you win games like this, eventually it kind of takes us forward. We are taking step by step. But this was definitely the right step going forward for the future and well done to all the guys who are playing ODIs, kill it! Continue!"
The ODI series between the two teams starts on Friday in Colombo, with captain Rohit Sharma, batting mainstay Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer coming into the team.
