Suryakumar praises team as India win series after washout in 5th match

India captain Suryakumar Yadav hailed his team’s collective effort and bounceback ability after clinching a 2-1 T20I series win over Australia, despite rain causing a washout at The Gabba. India 52/0 in 4.5 overs before the match was abandoned due to lightning and heavy showers.

“The way everyone chipped in and the way we came back from 0-1 down, credit to all the boys. Was a good series with bat, ball and in the field as well. Both fast bowlers and spinners know their job very well. Bumrah-Arshdeep is a lethal combination.”

“And then Axar, Varun coming in doing what they do best. And Washi coming in handy in the last game. They’ve played a lot of T20 cricket now, they bring a lot to the table and are backing themselves,” said Suryakumar in the post-match presentation ceremony.

With India set to face South Africa and New Zealand in T20 series at home before the T20 World Cup takes centrestage, Suryakumar felt the team’s depth is a ‘good headache to have’.

“Good headache to have - lots of players have been doing really well. Playing three strong teams - Australia, SA and NZ - going to be a great buildup before the World Cup.

“I saw recently what happened with the women’s team winning the WC in India, unbelievable support (from the crowd). Going to be a good challenge, exciting tournament, but it’s still far away. Two more series to go,” he added.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh acknowledged India’s dominance and the weather disruptions that caused the games in series to be abandoned twice.

“Can’t remember the last time we played and had so many rain interruptions. All in all a great series. India obviously won the games when it mattered, congratulations to them.”

Marsh highlighted the adaptability within Australia’s squad and the importance of building depth ahead of a T20 World Cup.

“There’s a lot of learnings to take forward. The adaptability and flexibility in our group and the squad we’re trying to build in a WC year has been amazing.

“Guys have come in, done really well, played their roles, that’s all we can ask for. Always moving parts in international cricket, especially with an Ashes coming up, but overall great attitude. Our squad, at full strength, is a pretty settled team.

“Looking ahead to what next is there for him, Marsh said, “The Big Bash is there for the guys to enjoy and hopefully the Scorchers win. Good question (on who will captain in the T20 World Cup - him or Pat Cummins). I think I’ll be there.”

Following India’s 2-1 series win over Australia, left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma credited his rapid rise in T20Is to the unwavering support and freedom provided by captain Suryakumar and head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Abhishek picked the Player of the Series award after amassing 163 runs in three innings at an average of 40.75. He impressed with brisk starts throughout the series. highlighted by a 37-ball 68 against Josh Hazlewood’s testing spell in the second match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“I think coming here, when I was practicing, obviously I had a plan that there is going to be extra bounce and pace. But from a team point of view, I had a plan that I have to play the same way I have been playing.

“When you are playing like this, when you want to dominate the opposition, you have to have that confidence and that ability, which I think the captain and coach always backed me, and I was practicing really hard.

“Because if you see, it’s not easy to come to Australia and beat them. So I think I had a plan. And I wanted to play the same brand of cricket.

Agencies