"Every game I play for my country"- Washington Sundar fires a subtle warning for Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir

Published - 31 Jul 2024, 12:53 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:16 AM

Suryakumar Yadav Washington Sundar Shubman Gill
Suryakumar Yadav Washington Sundar Shubman Gill. Image Credits: X

India allrounder Washington Sundar has thanked his captain Suryakumar Yadav for trusting his skills and providing him the opportunity to bowl the Super Over against Sri Lanka in the final T20I of the series played at Pallekele.

On a pitch-assisting spin, Sundar bowled excellent lines and lengths and kept varying his pace to pick up 2-23 in four overs. Both of his wickets came off Successive balls as he got the big wickets of Wanindu Hasaranga and SL captain Charith Asalanka.

Sundar did not stop here and came back to bowl the much-important Super Over as well. It seemed to be a risky decision by Suryakumar Yadav at first. But the offspinner stood up to his captain's expectations and dismissed Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka off successive balls to reduce Sri Lanka to a mere 2 runs in the Super Over.

The youngster did not try too much with the ball and smartly bowled according to field placements to shock the opposition.

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"Very grateful to Surya" - Washington Sundar thanks Suryakumar Yadav

Washington Sundar was given the 'Player of the Match' award for his brilliant performance. At the post-match presentation, Sundar was asked about his plan for the Super Over. He thanked his captain for trusting his skills and giving him the big opportunity to bowl such an important over.

"All the work that I did, a lot of blessings from God definitely helped me (in the Super Over). I wanted to try and stay calm and focus on what I am supposed to do. Very grateful to Surya to throw the ball to me at that kind of a situation. Very grateful to get an opportunity in this game," Sundar said at the post-match presentation.

Sundar also revealed that he had planned for the SL batsmen before the match and with the kind of assistance from the pitch, he focused on hitting the right lengths.

"Every game I get to play for my country, it's a blessing. I just need to do what I am supposed to do and keep working hard every single day. We did a bit of homework against their batsmen. There was little bit of purchase, I didn't have to do too much. I had to hit the right lengths very often," the 24-year-old said.

Washington Sundar shone with the bat too

Washington Sundar also had a great day with the bat. On a pitch where most of the Indian batsmen struggled, Sundar's late cameo helped India cross the 130-run mark which just proved to be enough.

The left-handed batter scored a brisk 25 off just 18 balls, which included 2 fours and 1 six. His all-round cameo is a great sign for India as they are looking for a substitute for Ravindra Jadeja in the format, who has retired from T20I cricket.

Sundar has had a great time in the past month or so. The allrounder was adjudged the Player of the Series in the tour of Zimbabwe before this series. In that series, Sundar had picked up 8 wickets in five matches at an average of 11.62.

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India National Cricket Team Sri Lanka national cricket team SL vs IND IND vs SL Sri Lanka vs India india vs sri lanka India tour of Sri Lanka 2024 Washington Sundar Suryakumar Yadav Gautam Gambhir