(July 31), Third Twenty20 International between India and Sri Lanka: Rinku Singh took two wickets for just three runs in the 19th over, leaving Sri Lanka six down in the chase.
While Shivam Dube, a member of India’s T20 World Cup-winning team, was still to roll his arms, Mohammed Siraj had one more over to go. However, in the third and final Twenty20 International (T20I) match of the series in Pallekele, captain Suryakumar Yadav gave the ball to Rinku Singh, who had never bowled in an international match, for the 19th over after Khaleel Ahmed’s 12-ball over, in which the left-arm pacer conceded 12 runs to diminish Sri Lanka’s target to just nine runs.
Suryakumar and head coach Gautam Gambhir took a huge risk on Tuesday, even though India had already won the series after winning the first two games last week. However, Sri Lanka was reduced to six down in the chase after the off-spinner claimed two wickets for just three runs. Afterwards, to defend six runs in the last over and win the Super Over, the captain himself rolled his arms and took two more wickets in a row.
After the victory, Suryakumar gave an explanation for his choice to bowl Rinku in the penultimate over. Speaking to Sony Sports, he believed that Rinku’s right-arm off-spin variation was more appropriate for the circumstances, particularly after making sure he bowled enough during the series in the practice sessions.
“The 19th over presented the most challenge; the decision for the 20th over was straightforward. Siraj and several others still had their leftovers. However, I thought Rinku was more qualified for that wicket because I had watched him bowl and because I forced him to spend a lot of time at the nets. I answered that call because I thought it was the right thing to do,” he said.
Upon being questioned further by former India cricketer Ashish Nehra about why Suryakumar did not bowl the 19th over, the captain cited match-ups as the reason for his decision. However, he later acknowledged that he now had an additional bowler to look up to in T20I cricket.
“I knew Indian cricket has always had trouble in the 19th over (laughs). Rinku was given the responsibility because of this. It is never easy for the batter when a right-hander bowls to a left-hander. I now have another bowling option going forward, so it’s great that he made the most of his skill and made my work easy,” he continued.
India will next play a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting August 3 in Colombo.
