Super Over Madness, Rinku Singh And Suryakumar Yadav Bowl, As India Beat Sri Lanka In 3rd T20I

30.07.2024 - 21:24 sports.ndtv.com

India defeated Sri Lanka via the Super Over in the inconsequential third and final T20I at Pallekele here on Tuesday to sweep the series 3-0.

Kusal Perera (46, 34b) and Kusal Mendis (43, 41b) guided Lanka's chase of 138 before their innings fell apart in the familiar fashion at the business end.

SL ended up at 137/8 after stipulated 20 overs, taking the match to Super Over. For India, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Rinku Singh and skipper Suryakumar Yadav took two wickets apiece.

India needed just three runs to win in Super Over. Earlier, SL bowlers produced a tidy effort to restrict India to a modest 137/9.

cricket Sri Lanka Cricket Team India Cricket Team Ravi Bishnoi Gautam Gambhir Kusal Mendis Suryakumar Yadav Washington India Sri Lanka state Washington

India captain Rohit Sharma believes that the 231-run target set by Sri Lanka in the first ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium was "gettable". After restricting Sri Lanka on 230/8, it turned out to be a topsy-turvy chase for the Indian team. Despite the explosive start provided by Rohit (58 in 47 balls, with seven fours and three sixes), the chase became a tantalizing affair for the Indian team. However, the Indian team ended up losing wickets towards the end, which ended the game in a draw in the absence of Super Over.

Rinku Singh's "God's Plan" Remark After Impactful Over Sri Lanka In 3rd T20I

With Sri Lanka needing nine runs to win off 12 balls, India summoned Rinku Singh to press his part-time off-spin bowling into action. Rinku, bowling for the first time in T20Is, gave away only three runs while picking two wickets in a superb 19th over. There was more out-of-the-box thinking in store as captain Suryakumar Yadav brought himself on to bowl the last over, defended five runs by picking up two wickets and sent the game to a Super Over, where India won to seal a 3-0 triumph.

Rishabh Pant Or KL Rahul? Gautam Gambhir's Big Dilemma Ahead Of India vs Sri Lanka ODI Series

The Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management has an opportunity to decide who among KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be India's long-term first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs when the side takes on Sri Lanka in a three-match series beginning here on Friday. There will be clamour around the first sighting of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as well, after the recent T20 World Cup triumph. But the think-tank will look to shut out that outside noise, focusing on sorting out the combination in a season that has some marquee one-day events including the Champions Trophy.

Watch: Gautam Gambhir's Reaction Bowls Over Internet As Rinku Singh Delivers Game-Changing Over

With 9 runs required from the final 2 overs, Sri Lanka had one foot into a victorious result in the 3rd T20I against India on Tuesday, especially as they had 6 wickets in hand. But, India head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav stumped everyone as they handed over the ball to Rinku Singh, a part-time bowler. However, what happened next was even more surprising. Rinku didn't just keep the flow of runs under check, conceding 3 runs in the 19th over, but also dismissed two Lankan batters.

Not His 20th Over, Suryakumar Yadav Reveals Real Game-Changing Moment For India In 3rd T20I

Suryakumar Yadav's heart is beating with joy watching his teammates care for each other, as he starts his journey to become a leader of men rather than a mere captain of a cricket team. In his first series as full-time T20I captain, Suryakumar won the 'Player of The Series' award after two brilliant knocks in the first two games, but getting two wickets with his off-breaks in a thrilling Super Over win was an icing on the cake.

Watch: Suryakumar Yadav Bowls To Defend 6 Runs In 20th Over, Fans Hail 'Gautam Gambhir Era'

Indian cricket team fans had their hearts racing as they saw T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav bowling the 20th over of the match against Sri Lanka, who needed just 6 runs to win the match. Suryakumar, who had not bowled a single over in the match until that moment, bowled the final over of the 3rd T20I and gave away just 5 runs, forcing the match into Super Over. As Surya's final-over heroics, with the ball, went viral, fans also hailed head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying a new era has started.