Skipper Suryakumar Yadav emerged as an unexpected hero with the ball as India triumphed over Sri Lanka in a thrilling T20 match that required a Super Over to determine the winner, completing a 3-0 series sweep on Tuesday. Spinners Rinku Singh and Suryakumar delivered the 19th and 20th overs during Sri Lanka's pursuit of 137, resulting in a tie at Kandy's Pallekele International Stadium. Washington Sundar then claimed two Sri Lankan wickets, swiftly concluding the Super Over with the hosts scoring only two runs, which India easily surpassed with a single hit from Suryakumar in batting mode. Sundar was named man of the match for his two wickets during Sri Lanka's chase, while Ravi Bishnoi, Rinku, and Suryakumar each took two wickets as well.
India's modern T20 squad, led by Suryakumar and coached by Gautam Gambhir, has shown strong performance following the retirements of key players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja after the T20 World Cup victory last month. Suryakumar took charge with his batting in the first two matches to secure the series win. He unexpectedly bowled the final over when Sri Lanka needed six runs to win, stating, "More than the last over, I feel when we were around 30-4, how the boys showed character, 140 was a par score on that track." He emphasized the team's skill, self-confidence, and camaraderie, making his role easier.
Suryakumar, known for his aggressive batting and off-spin bowling, took two wickets in consecutive balls during his debut as a T20 bowler. Sri Lanka suffered another batting collapse, needing 30 runs from the last 30 balls with nine wickets intact. Kusal Perera scored 46 before being caught and bowled by Rinku. Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, chose to field first after a rain-delayed toss on a pitch that favored spinners. Maheesh Theekshana and debutant Chamindu Wickramasinghe took crucial wickets, but Shubman Gill and Riyan Parag attempted to stabilize the innings.
Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets, but Sundar's 25 runs bolstered the total, and the Indian bowlers dominated. Asalanka acknowledged the need for improved performance from his team, highlighting the positives from their top batting order. India made several changes to their team, resting key players like Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant. The teams will now compete in three ODI matches, with India anticipating the return of Rohit and Kohli starting August 2.
