“Rohit Sharma Ka Chela…”: Former India star’s explosive comment on ‘Great Leader’ Suryakumar Yadav

India completed a 3-0 T20I series victory against Sri Lanka with a thrilling victory in the final match on Tuesday. Sri Lanka looked comfortably placed in the chase but Suryakumar’s stunning decision to use Rinku Singh as a bowler in the 19th over and himself bowling the final over was brilliant. From 110/1, Sri Lanka lost wickets in one fell swoop as they could only score 137/8 in 20 overs. In the super over, the hosts were once again defeated as India marched to a big victory. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif was impressed with Suryakumar’s captaincy and took to social media to praise him for his bowling changes.

“Bhai Rohit Sharma ka chela hai Surya.. 19th over Rinku se, 20th over khud SKY and won the game. What else does it take to be a great leader?” he posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Bhai Rohit Sharma ka chela hai Surya.. 19th over Rinku se, 20th over khud SKY and won the game. What else does it take to be a great leader?

-Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 30, 2024

With Sri Lanka needing nine runs to win 12 balls, India called upon Rinku Singh to bring their part-time off-spin bowling into action. Rinku, bowling for the first time in T20Is, gave away just three runs as he picked two wickets in an excellent 19th over. There were more innovative thoughts in store when captain Suryakumar Yadav stepped up to bowl the last over, saved five runs while picking up two wickets and sent the game into a Super Over, where India won to seal a 3-0 triumph.

“I have got a lot of wickets in domestic cricket. It’s not like that, and I even have a wicket in ODIs. I was informed by Surya that I was ready to bowl in the series. Although I hadn’t bowled before this game, Surya bhai told me to keep practicing my bowling and asked me to do so during the warm-up.

“When the game started, I didn’t expect to be asked to pitch, as the situation was totally tight. Then he asked me to roll my arm and when I started bowling, it was God’s plan – two wickets,” Rinku said in a video posted by BCCI on its ‘X’ account.

Off-spinner Washington Sundar, who starred in an all-round performance (25 runs, 2-23) and restricted Sri Lanka to just two runs in the Super Over, was also impressed by Suryakumar’s inventiveness.

“It was a big decision by Surya, first of all, to bring in Rinku (at the end of the 19th). Rinku makes things very difficult for us when he bowls in the nets and now he has shown that in this game too.

“For Surya to put himself in one of the most difficult situations and almost win the game for the team was incredible. Honestly, I was just focusing on what I wanted to do against those hitters.”

“It was a great opportunity given to me, especially to win the game for my country. I don’t know how many people would have the opportunity to do that every now and then,” he said.

(With IANS inputs)