Hardik Pandya openly speaks to Suryakumar Yadav in Indian team meeting for the 1st time

India allrounder Hardik Pandya has praised the T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav for brilliant captaincy that made sure India won the thriller against Sri Lanka in the final T20I of the series played at Pallekele.

In a fantastic turnaround of events, Sri Lanka lost 7 wickets for 27 runs as the match ended in a tie. Surprisingly, the last two overs of Sri Lanka's innings were bowled by Rinku Singh and captain Suryakumar Yadav, who have hardly ever bowled before in the format.

But both of them kept their composure as they made full use of the slow and turning conditions on offer. Rinku Singh bowled the penultimate over and picked up two wickets for just three runs.

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On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav came to bowl the last over of the match. With 6 needed off 6 balls, he bowled a fantastic over to pick up two wickets for just five runs and force the game into the Super Over.

Hardik Pandya lauds Suryakumar Yadav after India's thrilling win over Sri Lanka

After the match, Hardik Pandya gave a speech in the dressing room and lauded the players for showing tremendous resilience. Hardik praised Riyan Parag and Shubman Gill for their crucial partnership that helped India to reach a fighting total.

"First of all, well done! I think in batting first, we were challenged, conditions were difficult but I think that after losing those early wickets, Shubman (Gill) and Riyan (Parag) the way they batted and created the partnership was brilliant (claps)."

"I think when we speak about situational awareness, I think that point of time, what you both did was very very important and that gave us a platform to at least reach to a decent total which our bowlers can make sure and bowl at the right areas," Pandya stated.

Hardik Pandya also heaped praises on India's lower order for chipping in with vital contributions. Washington Sundar scored a vital 25 off 18 balls while Ravi Bishnoi scored 8 runs.

"Especially, you know, I always emphasize the fact that the lower order has to chip in and I think Washi (Washington Sundar) and those eight runs by Bishi (Ravi Bishnoi) was very very important (claps)," Pandya said.

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

"Well done on the way you rotated your bowlers" - Hardik Pandya on Suryakumar Yadav

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 💙

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The 30-year-old star allrounder then hailed Suryakumar Yadav for the way he rotated the bowlers. He mentioned the last two overs of the match that were bowled by Rinku Singh and Surya himself.

"As Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) mentioned, Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), well done on making sure that the way you rotated your bowlers, making sure for showing faith in your bowlers, which you gave in the last couple of overs. That was brilliant and as a bowling group, obviously, it was fantastic and everyone chipped in. Washi (Washington Sundar), well-done buddy," Pandya said

"When you win games like this, eventually it kind of takes us forward. We are taking step by step. But this was definitely a right step going forward for the future and well done to all the guys who are playing ODIs, kill it. Continue!" he concluded.

Hardik Pandya was Rohit Sharma's deputy in the T20 World Cup 2024 and was supposed to be India's next captain after Rohit Sharma. But instead, Suryakumar Yadav was preferred to be India's captain because of Hardik's constant injury concerns.