India’s Suryakumar Yadav played a sensational knock of 83 runs off just 44 balls to guide India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory against West Indies in the third T20 International (T20I) at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Tuesday. The swashbuckling batsman’s innings was adorned with four sixes and 10 fours, as he effortlessly found the gaps and punished the West Indies bowlers throughout his stay at the crease.
Chasing a target of 160, India reached the mark with 13 balls remaining, thanks to a superb finish by Hardik Pandya, who smashed a six over Rovman Powell’s head to seal the win. Tilak Varma, in his debut series, played a composed unbeaten knock of 49 runs off 37 deliveries, including four boundaries and a six, to support Suryakumar in the middle.
India’s chase didn’t start on a promising note as debutant Yashavi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill departed cheaply. However, Suryakumar stepped up to deliver a match-winning performance, ensuring that India avoided a series loss. His partnership of 87 runs with Tilak Varma proved crucial in propelling India towards victory.
Suryakumar came out attacking right from the start, flicking his first ball for a boundary. He displayed exquisite stroke play, finding the gaps effortlessly and making it extremely difficult for the West Indies bowlers to contain him. With 10 fours and four sixes in his blistering innings, the highlight was a straight hit over pacer Obed McCoy’s head that showcased his clean striking ability.
After Suryakumar’s dismissal in the 13th over, skipper Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma took charge and guided India home comfortably. Hardik finished unbeaten on 20 off 15 balls, hitting the winning six, while Tilak missed out on a well-deserved half-century in his debut series as skipper.
Earlier in the match, West Indies captain Rovman Powell’s unbeaten knock of 40 runs off 19 balls propelled his team to a competitive total of 159 for five. However, Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive spell of 3/28 restricted the flow of runs in the middle overs, turning the tide in India’s favor.
West Indies had a good start with Brandon King and Kyle Mayers stitching together a 55-run partnership. However, the surface, which was slower than expected, prompted Hardik Pandya to introduce spin early on. Kuldeep, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Axar Patel bowled crucial spells, with Kuldeep accounting for the dismissals of Nicholas Pooran and Brandon King.
With this victory, India managed to keep the five-match series alive, with West Indies leading 2-1. The next game will be played in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday, August 12.
India’s triumph in the third T20I was largely due to Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive batting and Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling prowess, which turned the game in their favor. The series is finely poised, with both teams hoping to clinch the title in the upcoming matches.
