NEW DELHI: India pulled off an astonishing victory against Sri Lanka, completing a 3-0 clean sweep, in a nail-biting finish to the third and final T20I of the series in Pallekele.
The hosts required just 9 runs off the last two overs with six wickets in hand, but the game took an unexpected turn when captain Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to Rinku Singh, a player who had never bowled in his 23-match T20I career.
On a spin-friendly track, Rinku Singh's entry into the bowling attack was a surprising and risky decision. However, it turned out to be a masterstroke.
Rinku's first delivery was a dot ball, with Kusal Perera attempting a reverse-slog but failing to connect. The tension was palpable, and head coach Gautam Gambhir's reaction of 'oohh' was caught on the telecast, reflecting the high stakes of the moment.
The turning point came with Rinku's second ball. He bowled a short-of-a-length delivery that Perera mistimed, resulting in a top edge. Rinku moved swiftly towards the off-side and completed a caught-and-bowled dismissal, taking his maiden T20I wicket.
This crucial breakthrough brought a smile to Gambhir's face, a rare sight in such tense circumstances.
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Rinku's over didn't stop there. On the final delivery, he claimed the wicket of Ramesh Mendis, ending the over with remarkable figures of 2 for 3. His two wickets and three runs conceded drastically altered the equation, leaving Sri Lanka needing six runs off the final over.
Suryakumar took it upon himself to bowl the last over. Displaying nerves of steel, he managed to restrict the hosts and push the game into a Super Over. India emerged victorious in the Super Over, securing a thrilling win that will be remembered for Rinku Singh's unexpected heroics and Suryakumar Yadav's bold captaincy.
