India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav (C) and Rinku Singh celebrate after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Ramesh Mendis (not pictured) during the third and final Twenty20 international cricket match between Sri Lanka and India at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on July 30, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Suryakumar Yadav had never bowled in a T20I, before today.

On Tuesday, at the Pallekele Stadium, with Sri Lanka needing six runs for a win off the final over, the Indian captain brought himself on, opting not to go for the more conventional option of pacer Mohammed Siraj.

What unfolded was stuff usually reserved for fiction as Suryakumar gave away just five runs, with a mix of off-breaks and seam-ups, ensuring a tie.

Improbable victory

A shell-shocked Sri Lanka folded out for two runs in the Super Over batting first. Befittingly, it was Suryakumar who struck the winning runs, with a four off the first ball, as India secured an improbable victory and a series clean sweep.

With two overs to go in the chase, the odds were even more stacked against India, with the home side needing just nine runs. Suryakumar handed the ball to Rinku Singh — who too had never bowled in a T20I before today. Rinku delivered a three-run over, dismissing the well-settled Kusal Perera and Ramesh Mendis, to set the stage for his captain.

India’s inconceivable win was aided in no small measure by the now-customary Sri Lankan middle-order collapse.

Once again, the top-order trio of Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera hauled the team to relative safety, in its 138-run chase, only for the rest of the batting order to fumble.

India’s resurgence was set up first by its front-line spinners. Ravi Bishnoi provided the initial breakthroughs by accounting for Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. Washington Sundar followed it by piercing the Lankan middle order with a double strike, dismissing Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka.

But their contributions would soon be surpassed by the part-time duo of Rinku and Suryakumar.

Earlier, for the first time in this series, India floundered with the bat after being sent in as the home bowlers bowled with purpose and intensity.

India’s decision to promote Sanju Samson and Rinku up the order yielded no rewards as both batters were dismissed cheaply, and were soon followed by Suryakumar.

Shubman Gill, the lone survivor of the top-order collapse, and Riyan Parag put together a crucial 54-run stand. This, along with a late cameo from Washington proved to be a key differential in the end.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu’s turbo-charged fifty combined well with the steadfast half-century of Harshitha Samarawickrama as a resilient Sri Lanka carved an eight-wicket win over defending champions India to bag their maiden women’s Asia Cup title on July 28.

This is the second time in nine Asia Cup editions (WODI and WT20I) across formats that India have lost a final. The last time India lost the final was against Bangladesh in 2018 in Kuala Lumpur.

Tasked with hunting down a strong target of 166, Sri Lanka served well by Athapaththu (61b, 43b, 9×4, 2×6) and Samarawickrama (69 not out, 51b, 6×4, 2×6) and finished at 167 for two in 18.4 overs.

Athapaththu and Samarawickrama added 87 runs as Lankans always stayed ahead of their opponents.

The stand for the for the second wicket was also of contrasts as Samarawickra was the yin to the yang of her aggressive leader.

Athapaththu fetched her fifty in 33 balls, and Samarawickrama went past her mark in 43 balls and their shot selection too was vastly differing.

Athapaththu scored through almost every reachable place on the field, and her assault on left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar, who she biffed for two fours and six in her first over, was stunning.

But at the other end, Samarawickrama clearly lacked the power of her senior but she offset that with clever placings, such as reverse sweeps off left-arm spinners Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav.

But she picked up the tempo when Sri Lanka reached a rather safer zone, muscling a slog-swept six off Yadav over mid-wicket.

In between, Deepti managed to bowl Athapaththu around her legs with a fuller delivery that sparked celebrations among the Indians, who till then looked lethargic on the field.

But those merriments were premature as Samarawickrama found an able sidekick in Kavisha Dilhari (30 not out, 16b, 1×4, 2×6) as the duo added 73 runs off just 40 balls for the unbeaten third wicket to guide their side home.

But an equal share of credit should go to the Lankan bowlers as well for stifling a set of free-flowing India batters.

Smriti Mandhana’s conditions-defying half-century (60, 47b, 10×4) had powered India to a fighting 165 for six and she received reasonable backing from Jemimah Rodrigues (29, 16 balls, 3×4, 1×6) and Richa Ghosh (30, 14 balls, 4×4, 1×6).

But largely it was a tight contest for them against a plethora of Lankan spinners.

In fact, the home side included only one pacer in their ranks – Udeshika Prabodhani and the rest were slow bowlers.

The Lanka bowlers indeed made good use of a slow pitch as well, leaving the Indian batters a frustrated lot often.

It was evident from the struggles of Shafali Verma (16, 19 balls), who found it difficult to time her shots.

Mandhana had a massive slice of fortune when she was on 10 as her weak chip off spinner Dilhari (2/36) was put down at covers by Samarawickrama.

The left-hander made the hosts pay for that mistake with some gorgeous shots, especially against Prabodhani whom she carted for three fours in the sixth over as India reached 44 for no loss.

But Verma soon fell leg before to Dilhari after getting pinged on her pads while trying a tweak to the on-side.

As the Power Play came to an end, Mandhana had to resort to some improvisations such as scoops behind the stumper to get her boundaries.

The Indian vice-captain, who brought up her fifty in 36 balls, also often had to make room for herself or shuffle across the stumps to find the ropes because the ball was not exactly coming on to her bat.

While Mandhana managed to beat the slowness of the deck, it consumed Harmanpreet and Uma Chetry, who got a promotion to No. 3.

At 87 for three in the 12th over, India needed a move-on and it was given by an aggressive Rodrigues in the company of Mandhana, making 41 runs off 25 balls for the fourth wicket.

However, the run out of Rodrigues and the dismissal of Mandhana pushed India to 133 for five in 16.5 overs.

Ghosh played a typical swift innings that contained a massive slog-swept six off Dilhari over the mid-wicket.

In the company of Pooja Vastrakar, Ghosh milked 31 runs for the sixth wicket that carried India past the 160-run mark.

Brief Scores: India 165/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 60, Jemimah Rodgrigues 29, Richa Ghosh 30; Kavisha Dilhari 2/36) lost to Sri Lanka 167/2 in 18.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 61, Harshitha Samarawickrama 69*, Kavisha Dilhari 30*; Deepti Sharma 1/30) by 8 wickets.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav during a practice session at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, in Pallekele, Thursday, July 25, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Newly-appointed Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav says he has enjoyed being a leader on field despite not dawning the captain’s hat, adding that he leant the tricks of the trade from different skippers over the years.

Suryakumar was appointed as India’s T20 captain last week ahead of Hardik Pandya after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format.

Suryakumar’s first assignment will be the three-match T20 series against hosts Sri Lanka starting here on Saturday.

“I have always enjoyed being a leader on the field even though I was not the captain. I have always learnt a lot of things from different captains. It’s a good feeling and a great responsibility,” the swashbuckling middle-order batter told BCCI.TV.

Indian cricket is set to embark on a new era under Suryakumar and new head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Both Suryakumar and Gambhir share a strong bond since Kolkata Knight Riders days as they played together in 2014 for the franchise.

And Suryakumar, known for his aggressive batting and innovative shots, described his relationship with Gambhir as both special and strong.

“This relationship is special because in 2014 I played under him in KKR. It was special because from there only I got opportunities. The relationship is still strong.

“He (Gambhir) knows how I work, what is my mindset when I come to practice sessions. I also know how he tries to work as a coach. It’s all about the lovely relationship we have and very excited to see how it goes forward,” the Mumbai batter said.

By his own admission, Suryakumar wants to remain humble and grounded while leading the side on the field as he looks at cricket just as a sport, not life.

“I think most important thing what I have learned from this sport is how humble you are after achieving or even after not doing well. I have learned when you do something on the ground you have to leave it on the ground,” he said.

“This is not your life, this is just a part of your life. So you can’t be when you are doing well you stay on the top and when you are not doing well, you are underground.

“That’s one thing which you shouldn’t do ever as a sportsman, that’s one thing which I have learned and that’s what helps me create balance in my life. If you are good person, everything happens good.”

File photo of India’s Suryakumar Yadav.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Suryakumar Yadav has been anointed as Rohit Sharma’s heir apparent in T20Is while Rohit and Virat Kohli have made themselves available for the ODI leg of India’s forthcoming limited overs series in Sri Lanka. The transition — with Hardik Pandya being overlooked from the leadership group from the shortest format — is significant considering the tour will be Gautam Gambhir’s first official assignment as India men’s head coach.

The national selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, met online on Tuesday evening to finalise the squad ahead of the T20I squad’s departure on July 22. While the hour-long meeting is understood to have been a cordial affair, the last three days were eventful.

Lanky pacer Harshit Rana and middle-order bat Riyan Parag — who debuted in T20Is in Zimbabwe — have earned maiden call-ups in ODIs while Shreyas Iyer will feature in India’s blues for the first time since being stripped off the BCCI contract.

“The BCCI will continue to monitor player availability and participation in the upcoming domestic cricket season” noted the BCCI statement.

The Hindu understands that Gambhir and Agarkar reached out to Rohit and Kohli — who were supposed to take a break from the Sri Lanka ODIs — and convinced the duo to join the squad in Sri Lanka. With India set to play only six ODIs, including the three in Sri Lanka in August, before the next year’s Champions Trophy, the veterans’ presence will be crucial to plan for the next stern test.

A lot of drama, however, unfolded during a conference call with Hardik on Monday. Considering Hardik’s fitness concerns, form on the wane and his “unimpressive strategising” during the 16 T20Is he led India in between the last two T20 World Cups, the selectors and Gambhir wanted a change.

The move came as a surprise to Hardik along with a section of BCCI officials who assumed that with the allrounder being Rohit’s deputy for the triumphant T20 World Cup, he will be elevated to the permanent T20Is captaincy.

However, Gambhir is understood to have put his foot down for Suryakumar, one of his most favourite cricketers since the former opener’s playing days, getting the nod ahead of Hardik and Rishabh Pant, whose name was also discussed.

Having led India in seven T20Is last year, Suryakumar is no stranger to captaincy. But the maverick batter’s mettle will be tested in the lead-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup on home soil. Hardik — who has been asked to feature in all the domestic limited overs’ tournaments — was also replaced as vice-captain with Shubman Gill.

Gambhir’s footprint was also evident in Rana’s selection for the ODIs. The Delhi pacer was a star act in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title run in IPL 2024, with Gambhir as the team mentor.

The Squads:

T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.

ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.

File picture of Hardik Pandya holding the T20 World Cup trophy at the felicitation ceremony for the team at Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai
| Photo Credit: PTI

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to lead India in the three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka starting July 27.

However, one of the heroes of India’s T20 World Cup victory last month will take a break during the three-match ODI series, which is scheduled in August, due to “personal reasons”.

“Hardik Pandya was India’s T2O vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is completely fit and available for the three-match T20I series and will lead the side,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Rohit retired from T20 Internationals at the end of the World Cup.

The T20Is against Sri Lanka will run from July 27 to 30 in Pallekele, followed by the ODIs from August 2 to 7 in Colombo. The squad for the series is expected to be announced in the next couple of days.

While there is still no clarity on who would be Pandya’s deputy, the toss-up is between Shubman Gill, who recently captained India to a 4-1 series win over Zimbabwe, and Suryakumar Yadav, who led the side during the T20Is against South Africa last year.

About the ODIs, the official confirmed that Pandya has asked for leave and has already communicated this to regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who is also taking a break from this series.

“The break from ODIs is for very personal reasons. Hardik doesn’t have any fitness issue as is being floated in the media,” the official said.

For the ODIs, KL Rahul, who led in the last ODI series in South Africa, and Gill are in contention for the leadership role.

Thrust on domestic availability

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has made it clear that even star cricketers must make themselves available for domestic engagements when they are free from national duty. But exceptions will be made for the likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

The BCCI would, however, want all the other Test specialists to play at least one if not a couple of Duleep Trophy games in August as a precursor to the Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

“This time there is no zonal selection committee for Duleep Trophy. Only national selection committee will pick Duleep teams.

“All Test team contenders will be picked. For Rohit, Virat and Bumrah, it will be their choice if they want to play or not,” the source added.