"I said he's an X-Factor"- Suryakumar Yadav hints at long rope for Riyan Parag in Sri Lanka

Suryakumar Yadav, the newly-nominated T20I captain for India started his stint with a win in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday. India won the match by 43 runs and SKY as captain as a chance to seal a series win on Sunday in the second T20I.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav's 58 off 26, India posted a score of 213/7 after being put into the first. Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 off 21) and Shubman Gill (34 off 16) added a 74-run stand for India inside the powerplay.

Surya then flexed his muscles and with Rishabh {Pant (49) added another 76-runs crucial runs for India. Axar Patel's cameo of 10 from five then was the key behind India reaching their end score. It was now down to the bowlers to defend the total.

Sri Lanka needed to chase a record total and they started well. Pathum Nissaanka (79) and Kusal Mendis (45) added 84 inside the first nine overs. The stand was broken by Arshdeep Singh. Nissanka carried on in his merry way and added another crucial stand of 56 with Kusal Perera (20).

Also Read: "Stellar Captaincy"- Former Indian legend's assessment of Suryakumar Yadav after IND vs SL 1st T20I

Axar Patel struck twice in the 16th over to dismiss Nissanka and Perera in the same over. That was a big dent in the Sri Lanka chase. They could not recover from that and lost their last nine wickets for just 30 runs. From 140/1, they were bowled out for 170 as India roared back into the game.

Suryakumar Yadav as the skipper kept his cool and made his bowling changes. His decision to introduce Riyan Parag with the ball made an immediate impact as he took three wickets with the ball including the final wicket for Sri Lanka.

The spinners in Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi kept the pressure from one end for Parag to take wickets from the other. In an attempt to attack the young all-rounder Sri Lanka lost wickets in a cluster.

Also Read: "Stellar Captaincy"- Former Indian legend's assessment of Suryakumar Yadav after IND vs SL 1st T20I

Watch Suryakumar Yadav's Take On India's First T20I Win Against Sri Lanka

In a video posted by BCCI after the game, SKY spoke about his decision-making on the field and spoke about his overall impression of his first win as India's T20I captain. He also spoke about the thought behind giving Parag the ball.

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"Riyan Parag is special with the ball, I have seen him bowl in the nets in the IPL and even in the press conference, I said that he has an X-factor in him as a player. If batters like him bowl a few overs my job as captain becomes easier" he said on Parag.

SKY then spoke about his knock with the bat. He scored a fifty in his very first innings as India's full-time T20I skipper. He scored 58 off 26 balls with eight fours and two sixes striking at a strike rate of 223.08. he was awarded the Men of the Match for his knock as he equaled Virat Kohli's tally of 16 MOMs in the T20I format.

"I needed to set the tempo given the situation we were in from the batting point of view. I knew the batting depth we had and trusted the other batters to get the job done even if I was dismissed cheaply. I want to become a leader, not a captain" said SKY.

He ended his interaction by speaking about playing in Sri Lanka and the love and support the team received from the crowd.

"It was pleasing to see the support from the fans in Sri Lanka. The distance between the two countries is not that much, just a two and a half hours flight and we reach and thus it feels like we are playing in India only. The support from the gans was good to see and if we continue getting the support from the fans, it will inspire us to do our job as cricketers" Surya concluded saying.

The second T20I will be played on Sunday from 7 pm IST.

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