Ishika Kumar, Pune
In a nail-biting finish to the T20I series, India has secured a massive victory against Sri Lanka, sweeping the series 3-0. The final match was played in Pallekele Stadium and India emerged victorious in the super-over, which got everyone on the edge of their seats. Gratitude goes to the epic efforts of the skipper; Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh, both of whom turned the wave in India’s favour.
The third T20I was none other than a rollercoaster ride. Chasing a mere target of 138 on a challenging pitch, Sri Kanka was cruising through 110 for 1 in the 15th over. However, their batting lineup collapsed, losing seven wickets for 27 runs in the next 4.5 overs and ending their innings at 137 for 8. This unexpected domino fall drove the match into a super-over, a dramatic twist that nobody saw coming. Washington Sunder displayed iron-clad skills in the super-over by taking two crucial wickets conceding only two runs. This exceptional play set the stage for Suryakumar Yadav, who guaranteed the win with a four off the first ball, securing India’s sweep. Yadav’s leadership was integral considering his debut series as full-time captain.
The series witnessed noteworthy performances from respective players. Rinku Singh, a part-time bowler, was pivotal in the final overs of the match. Bowling for the first time in the T20I, Singh took two extremely vital wickets, including that of Kusal Perera, Sri Lanka’s top scorer with 46 runs. His performance, combined with Yadav’s two wickets in the 20th over, brought India back into the game. Washington Sundar was ‘Player of the Match’ for his overall performance, scoring a quick 25 from 18 balls and then delivering a game-changing element in the super-over. His contribution was necessary as the pitch heavily favoured spinners, as noticed in the struggles of batters from both teams.
Sri Lanka’s dramatic fall was the series’ theme. The middle-order and lower-order consistently stumbled regardless of strong play from their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, who scored 26 and 43 respectively. Charith Asalanka the captain of Sri Lanka, openly criticised the middle-order’s repeated failures, urging them to introspect and improve immediately. Earlier the Sri Lankan spinners had put India on their back foot, reducing them to 30 for 4 by the end of powerplay. Contributions from Ruturaj Gaikwad (39) and Riyan Parag (26) helped India reach a total of 137 for 9, a score that seemed reasonable but competitive considering pitch conditions.
India’s victory in the super-over was a jigsaw puzzle coming together in a closely contested series indeed.
An impressionable clean sweep was celebrated as it was Gautam Gambhir’s first series as head coach, and Suryakumar Yadav’s first as full-time captain.
India’s win in the T20I series will be a significant moral boost. The team’s ability to perform under pressure works well for their endeavours, as they look ahead to the ODI series in Colombo.