Cricket

India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav's costly blunder almost handed Sri Lanka a victory in the third and final T20I of the series in Pallekele on Tuesday. Chasing 138 runs, Sri Lanka's poor batting performance towards the end saw India stage a remarkable comeback.With Sri Lanka needing 5 runs off the final two balls, Chamindu Wickramasinghe slammed Suryakumar's fuller delivery to long-off and attempted to steal a couple. The throw from long-off came at the non-striker's end, where Asitha Fernando could have been caught well short of his crease. However, Suryakumar's mistake allowed the Sri Lanka batters to save their wickets and complete the double.The missed run-out proved pivotal, as Sri Lanka took the game into Super Over. However, India's dominating performance in the Super Over secured them the victory.Reflecting on the match, Suryakumar acknowledged the team's character in overcoming the early setbacks. "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," he said.Suryakumar emphasized the importance of embracing both victories and setbacks. "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," he added.

India's T20I dominance over Sri Lanka continued as they completed a resounding 3-0 clean-sweep with a thrilling super over victory in the final match. The hosts' chase of 138 seemed comfortable until Suryakumar Yadav's inspired bowling changes turned the tide.With Sri Lanka needing nine runs off 12 balls, Yadav summoned part-time off-spinner Rinku Singh. Singh, making his T20I bowling debut, conceded only three runs and claimed two wickets in a remarkable 19th over.Yadav's audacity continued as he brought himself on to bowl the final over. Despite conceding five runs, he picked up two more wickets, forcing the game into a super over. India's dominance extended into the super over, where they restricted Sri Lanka to just two runs and secured a comprehensive victory.Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif lauded Yadav's captaincy, particularly his unconventional bowling choices. "Suryakumar is a true disciple of Rohit Sharma," Kaif tweeted. "Using Rinku in the 19th over and himself in the 20th over shows what it takes to be a great leader."Rinku, who had never bowled in T20Is before, expressed his surprise at being asked to bowl. "I was informed by Surya to be ready for bowling in the series," he said. "When he asked me to bowl, it was God's plan."Off-spinner Washington Sundar, who starred with an all-round performance, praised Yadav's inventiveness. "It was a great decision to bring in Rinku," Sundar said. "For Surya to bring himself into such a crunch situation was amazing."Yadav's bold captaincy and the unexpected contributions of Rinku and Sundar proved decisive in India's clean-sweep. The victory further cements India's status as a formidable force in T20I cricket.

Suryakumar Yadav, the dynamic Indian T20I captain, has etched his name among the elite cricketers with the most Player of the Series awards in T20 Internationals. His fifth such accolade places him just behind Virat Kohli, who holds the record with six awards. Yadav now shares this distinction with Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan and Australia's David Warner.Yadav's rise to this milestone has been marked by his aggressive batting and ability to perform under pressure. In his 71 T20I appearances, he has amassed 2432 runs at an impressive average of 42.67. His recent performances have solidified his position in the team and earned him recognition as one of the most formidable T20I players globally.Yadav's Player of the Series awards have come through match-winning performances, highlighting his consistency and importance to the Indian cricket team. His inclusion in the ranks of Shakib Al Hasan and David Warner, who have been pillars for their respective teams, underscores Yadav's significant impact in international cricket.Shakib is known for his all-round capabilities, while Warner is renowned for his explosive batting. Yadav's inclusion in this elite list reflects his calibre and potential to shape the future of T20 cricket.Meanwhile, Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir have kickstarted their new partnership with a 3-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka. This victory marked a successful beginning for Gambhir's tenure as head coach and highlighted Yadav's crucial role in leading the team to success.Yadav's journey to this milestone is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and ability to perform under pressure. His aggressive batting and match-winning performances have made him a vital cog in the Indian cricket team and one of the most exciting players to watch in T20 cricket.

Suryakumar Yadav, the newly appointed permanent T20I captain of the Indian cricket team, has embarked on a journey to become a true leader, inspiring and guiding his team beyond the responsibilities of a captain. In his first series as captain, Suryakumar showcased his exceptional skills, earning the prestigious 'Player of The Series' title with two outstanding performances in the initial matches.However, his contribution extended further when he claimed two crucial wickets with his off-spin bowling during a nail-biting Super Over victory, adding an extra layer of satisfaction to his achievements. "Like I said before the series, I don't want to be the captain, I want to be the leader," Suryakumar said at the post-match presentation ceremony.He expressed endless admiration for his fellow players, who demonstrated immense courage and determination while safeguarding a humble total of 137 runs. "The amount of skill they have, self-confidence, it makes my job easy. The positivity, the care for each other is unbelievable. After the last game, I told few boys will be rested and they were ready to sit out."The Indian skipper said that just as people enjoy high scores of 220 or 230, they should also start appreciating low-scoring games, as it brings balance to the sport. "More than the last over, I feel when we were around 30/4 and 48 for 5, how the boys showed character, 140 was a par score on that track. I told, if we put our heart in it, we could pull it off."Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka couldn't explain what went wrong with the middle-order in all three games. "Definitely, really disappointed, especially the middle-order and lower-middle order. Very bad shot selection. The thinking was spinners were bowling and that's why Wanindu Hasaranga came up the order and we gave him the license to hit one or two boundaries," Asalanka said."I think especially we played some wrong shots and when the ball gets old, the shot selection has to be spot on. We can't give excuses and we have to do more than this."I want to see good batting performance in ODIs and I think the boys will do better," the dejected Lankan skipper added.

In a thrilling conclusion to the three-match T20I series, India secured a 3-0 sweep over Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Tuesday. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh emerged as unlikely heroes with the ball, orchestrating a remarkable collapse that handed India the victory.Chasing a modest target of 138, Sri Lanka appeared in control at 110 for 1 in the 15th over. However, Suryakumar and Rinku turned the tide with two game-changing overs. Suryakumar, bowling the 20th over, defended six runs successfully by taking two wickets in his first two balls. Rinku, in a pressure-filled 19th over, bagged two crucial wickets, including that of Kusal Perera, when Sri Lanka needed just nine runs from 12 balls.The two incredible overs from Rinku and Suryakumar stopped the Lankans on 137, taking the game into the Super Over. Washington Sundar then shone in the Super Over, giving away only two runs and taking two wickets. Suryakumar sealed the win with a sweeping shot on the first ball he faced in the Super Over.Suryakumar's strategic move of introducing Rinku in the 19th over proved decisive. Rinku's dismissal of Perera, who had scored 46 runs, came just when Sri Lanka appeared to have the match secured.Earlier, India had posted 137 for 9, with Shubman Gill (39 off 37 balls) and Riyan Parag (26 off 18 balls) stitching a crucial 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Sri Lankan spinners effectively restrained the Indian batters on a pitch offering significant turn and variable bounce.Despite the challenges, Gill adjusted his play style, curbing his natural attacking instincts, and Parag showcased his potential with explosive shots. However, both fell attempting glory shots.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, missed the services of their premier pacer Matheesha Pathirana due to a shoulder injury. Skipper Charith Asalanka effectively used their four-pronged spin attack, maintaining pressure on Indian batsmen and taking wickets at regular intervals.

Hardik Pandya's sudden removal as India's T20I captain and exclusion from the ODI squad has raised eyebrows. The decision, made by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, has been attributed to Pandya's fitness concerns and limited availability.Pandya, who led India to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, has been plagued by injuries, including an ankle issue during the 50-over World Cup last year. Despite his impressive performance in the T20 World Cup, scoring 144 runs and taking 11 wickets, Pandya's fitness has become a concern.Former India pacer Ashish Nehra expressed surprise at the decision, stating that Pandya's fitness and limited match play could be factors. However, Nehra emphasized Pandya's importance in India's white-ball setup when fit.Suryakumar Yadav, who has been appointed as India's new T20I captain, shares a close bond with former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, who showed faith in Suryakumar during their time together at KKR, may view him as a long-term captaincy prospect.Nehra believes that Suryakumar's captaincy will depend on his form, equation with the coach and selection committee, and the team's performance. He also highlighted the transition in the Indian team after the World Cup win, with Rohit Sharma remaining as the main captain and Shubman Gill as his deputy.Nehra expressed confidence in Suryakumar's abilities under Gambhir's guidance, citing their familiarity from their time at KKR. He also noted that other countries have successfully implemented multiple captains in different formats.

Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris believes that Suryakumar Yadav's appointment as India's T20I captain is a temporary measure, with Gautam Gambhir grooming Shubman Gill as the long-term leader.Styris, speaking to India Today, said, "I think he's a short-term option. I don't think Gambhir has a natural captain amongst the players that he has right now."He added, "He's buying himself time as to who will be the next long-term captain. Someone like Gill I think could do the job for 10 years for India, but he's not quite ready right now, so I think it was a really smart decision to bring in someone with a bit more experience."Suryakumar Yadav, fondly known as SKY, was appointed India's T20I captain after Rohit Sharma retired from the shortest format. Gill was named vice-captain for both the T20Is and ODIs on the Sri Lanka tour.Styris believes that Gill has the potential to be India's long-term captain, but he needs more experience. "You know, someone like Gill I think could do the job for 10 years for India, but he's not quite ready right now, so I think it was a really smart decision to bring in someone with a bit more experience," he said.SKY, at 33, is older than Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, who is 37. Therefore, developing a long-term captain for the future appears to be a sensible move by Gambhir.Gill captained India for the first time during the post-T20 World Cup tour to Zimbabwe, where India won the five-match series 4-1. Earlier in the year, Gill had captained IPL franchise Gujarat Titans to a disappointing 8th-place finish.Styris mentioned that despite the long-term vision, SKY could remain India's T20I captain till the next T20 World Cup in 2026. "If he (SKY) does a decent enough job, then he might be the captain at the next T20 World Cup. And then after that, you can look at Gill or any of the other potential options around. But yeah, I think it's a really clever decision," said Styris.India's three-match T20I tour of Sri Lanka gets underway on Saturday, July 27.

Team India's newly appointed T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has been excluded from the ODI squad, as confirmed by BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar. Agarkar stated that Yadav's name was not considered for the ODI team due to the return of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant.Despite being part of India's 2023 ODI World Cup squad, Yadav's position in the ODI pecking order has diminished. Former India batter Aakash Chopra predicts that Yadav will also miss out on the Champions Trophy next year, as he is not included in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.Chopra believes that Yadav's exclusion from the ODI team indicates that he is currently not being considered for the 50-over format. He suggests that Yadav's focus will be solely on T20Is.In contrast, Chopra expects Shubman Gill to be a part of India's Champions Trophy team, given his appointment as ODI vice-captain. Agarkar has praised Gill's three-format potential and his leadership qualities, which were evident during his captaincy in the IPL and against Zimbabwe.The BCCI's decision to exclude Yadav from the ODI team has sparked discussions about the future of the Indian ODI squad. With the likes of Rahul, Iyer, and Pant returning, the competition for places in the middle order has intensified. It remains to be seen whether Yadav can regain his place in the ODI team or if he will continue to focus on T20Is.

Suryakumar Yadav's Unforgettable Catch Seals India's T20 World Cup TriumphIndian Twenty20 international captain Suryakumar Yadav has etched his name in cricket history with his match-winning catch of David Miller in the ICC T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Yadav's athleticism and composure under pressure proved pivotal in India's seven-run victory, ending their 11-year ICC trophy drought.Yadav, who finished the tournament as the ninth-highest run scorer with 199 runs, admitted that he never anticipated making such a crucial catch in a World Cup final. "I have done those things in my practice sessions a lot, but I did not think it would come at that moment," he said. "I am very grateful for that, to be doing something special on a special occasion."The catch came in the final over of South Africa's chase, with Miller attempting a powerful shot off Hardik Pandya. Yadav, positioned near the boundary, moved outside and then back inside to complete the catch legally. Commentator Ian Smith hailed it as an "incredible piece of athleticism" that shifted the momentum in India's favor.India's victory was a collective effort, with Virat Kohli (76), Hardik Pandya (3/20), and Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) playing key roles. Kohli's brilliant knock helped India post a competitive total of 176/7, while Pandya and Bumrah's pace-choking attack restricted South Africa to 169/8.Yadav's catch will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history. It not only sealed India's second T20 World Cup title but also marked the end of their long wait for an ICC trophy.