India vs Sri Lanka: Washington Sundar Reveals The Super Over Story

The third T20I between India and Sri Lanka highlighted a key shift in the ongoing debate about Indian batters' bowling capabilities. In a surprising turn, Suryakumar Yadav used unconventional strategies to secure the win. In a crucial moment, he had Rinku Singh bowl the penultimate over and then took charge himself, delivering the final over. This bold move helped the visitors defend nine runs off 12 balls, leading the match into a Super Over. During the Super Over, Washington Sundar was thrust into a pivotal role, though he admitted he was unaware he would be the one in charge. Suryakumar’s captaincy throughout the series was marked by unconventional decisions, and this match was no different. He made the surprising choice to rely on Sundar, a spinner, rather than pace bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed, who each had one over left. This strategic gamble paid off remarkably well.

In the Super Over, Sundar delivered an exceptional performance, conceding only two runs and taking two crucial wickets. His economical bowling set the stage for India to chase down the target swiftly, with Suryakumar Yadav finishing the match with a decisive four. This game showcased not only Suryakumar’s innovative captaincy but also the growing versatility and depth of India's batting lineup, challenging the long-standing notion that their batters lack bowling prowess.

"It was amazing from Surya and his leadership skills. I think he felt given the situation if he bowled more spinners we'd have a good chance to win the game. Given the wicket and the situation, he took one or two options, and it did wonders for us. There were only 12 balls to go and Kusal Perera was batting. Rinku got him out and Surya himself came on in the last over and almost won the game for us. We all know he has a big heart when he goes out there to bat, but he also has a big heart in leadership as well,” said India's off-spinner Washington Sundar during a recent interview. 

"Honestly, I had no idea I was going to bowl. It was after the batsmen walked out that Surya turned behind and said: 'Washy, you're on.' I was very happy, to be honest. When the captain wants you to bowl especially in tough situations, in a Super Over. I thought it was a great opportunity for me to step up and win games for my country. Thank God it went well,” he added.

The T20I series marked the inaugural assignment for Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav as head coach and captain, respectively. Their leadership proved highly successful, as the team won the series 3-0, leaving them with an unbeaten record heading into the upcoming three-match ODI series. For the ODI series, Rohit Sharma will return as captain, taking over from Suryakumar.

In recent history, India has consistently outperformed Sri Lanka in One Day Internationals. In the last six ODIs between the two teams, India has emerged victorious on every occasion, further solidifying their dominant position. This track record sets a high bar for the upcoming series and adds extra anticipation to the encounters. With Gambhir and Suryakumar having successfully led the team in T20s, the shift back to Rohit Sharma’s captaincy for the ODIs introduces a fresh dynamic, promising an exciting continuation of the cricketing rivalry.