Suryakumar has a big heart in terms of leadership as well: Sundar

In a low-scoring encounter in Pallekele, Sri Lanka needed nine from the last two overs to win the game and get off the mark in the series. However, that is when skipper Suryakumar Yadav surprised everyone when he threw the ball to Rinku Singh, who before yesterday (July 30) had bowled just five times in T20 cricket, and the first time ever in the format at the international level. He delivered for his team with the wickets of Kusal Perera (46) and Ramesh Mendis in his over to pull Sri Lanka back in the game.

With six needed off the final over, the skipper brought himself on to bowl the final over. Like Rinku, Surya, too, had never bowled in T20 Internationals (T20I) before, decided to have a bowl when Mohammed Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed left with one over apiece. It turned out to be a masterstroke as he not just picked up a couple of wickets but pushed the game to a Super Over, which India won.

All-rounder Washington Sundar was entrusted to bowl the Super Over and he gave away just a couple of runs. He had a brilliant game as well, having scored a vital 25 off 18 and finished with figures of 2/23.

“Honestly, it's amazing of him, amazing of his leadership skills to be honest, because 12 balls 12 [9] to win and for him to bring Rinku, especially when Kusal Perera is batting, and Rinku got him out and Surya himself came in the last over and won the game for us,” Sundar said at the post-match [press conference.

“We all know he has a big heart when he goes out there to bat but also he has a big heart in terms of leadership as well. All the credits to him and amazing of him.”

Sundar said he was surprised to be handed the responsibility of bowling in the Super Over.

“Honestly, I had no idea that I was going to bowl, but after the batsmen walked out to bat, Surya just turned behind, and he said, ‘Washy, you are on’,” Sundar recalled.

“I was very happy to be honest when captain wants you to bowl in tough situations, especially in Super Over, I thought it was a great opportunity for me to step up and win the game for my country and thank God things went well,” he said.

It was a similar story for Sri Lanka, who once again collapsed to hand India the initiative. Chasing 138, they were cruising at 110/1 and scored 27/7 off the last 29 deliveries. Sundar says that Surya kept insisting that it was just a matter of picking up one or two wickets across the run of play that would rattle Sri Lanka and bring India back into the contest. 

“Surya kept telling us that one or two wickets in between game would definitely change and obviously in these kind of games, low scoring games, even run-a-ball would put a lot of pressure on the batsmen because they need to get the job done especially when the wicket has something for the bowler,” Sundar said.

“He kept saying that one or two wickets in the middle, especially in the middle overs between 11 to 15, will definitely be in the game and exactly that's what happened.

“I hope the audience enjoyed the game because you won't see such games every now and then but to be a part of this kind of a game and to be a part of this game honestly feels great."

Following the T20I clean sweep, India will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, staring Friday (August 2)

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