Table of Contents
On Tuesday, Suryakumar Yadav played an extraordinary knock against West Indies, helping India stage a comeback in the third T20I at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Following defeats in the first two games, the Indian team secured a convincing seven-wicket victory, reducing the series margin to 1-2 in the five-match series.
Yadav’s unconventional brilliance in the third T20I against West Indies
In pursuit of a target of 160 runs, Yadav took charge of the batting lineup alongside Tilak Varma, guiding the team to victory with 13 balls to spare. Displaying his prowess as the top-ranked T20 batter, the 32-year-old smashed an impressive 83 runs off just 44 deliveries, maintaining a strike rate of 188.64. He hammered 10 fours and 4 sixes in his dazzling knock. This performance marked his return to form after a challenging ODI series.
It is worth mentioning that Yadav had a decent start in the first T20I, scoring 21 runs. However, the right-hander faced a setback as he was dismissed for just one run in the following game.
Yadav bestows a valuable gift to ‘special fan’
Recognized as the Player of the Match, Yadav celebrated the triumph with his fans in Guyana. He engaged with fans, posed for photos, signed autographs, and exhibited a jubilant demeanor. After the victory, Yadav made a heartwarming gesture by gifting his jersey to a ‘special’ fan. He met a wheelchair-bound fan and presented him with his match-winning jersey.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a short video clip on their Twitter handle showcasing Suryakumar’s joyful interactions in the Caribbean.
Here’s the video:
The fans in Guyana witnessed a SKY special in the 3rd #WIvIND T20I 💥
Not much later, they got to meet the Player of the match @surya_14kumar himself 😃👌 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/xE6pKGtBgD
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 9, 2023
Speaking about the game, Windies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and elected to bat first. The team got off to a rapid start, accumulating 55 runs in just 7.3 overs, thanks to Brandon King‘s 42 and Kyle Mayers’ 25. Nevertheless, the momentum shifted in favour of India as Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel dismissed both openers in quick succession.
Kuldeep also claimed the wicket of Johnson Charles, who scored 12 runs. Nicholas Pooran contributed a quickfire 20 off 12 balls before being stumped by Sanju Samson off Kuldeep’s delivery. West Indies finished their innings at 159/5 in 20 overs, with skipper Powell smashing an unbeaten 40 off 19 balls, featuring 3 sixes and a four.
In response, India debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for just one run while attempting to capitalize on the powerplay overs. Shubman Gill’s struggle in the T20I series continued as he managed only 6 runs. Nonetheless, the partnership between Varma and Yadav turned the tide in India’s favour. The duo added a substantial 87 runs for the third wicket in just 8.2 overs. After Yadav’s departure, young Varma continued the momentum and remained unbeaten on 49 off 37 balls. Hardik Pandya contributed an unbeaten 20 runs, including a crucial six that sealed the victory.
Indiacruised to a comfortable 7-wicket win, allowing them to stay alive in the series. The upcoming two T20Is will take place in Landerhill, USA on August 12 and 13, respectively.
