ডাকবাংলা

Rising Star Suryakumar

This T20 series has already assumed the hue of a classic, nothing separating India and England going into Saturday’s decider. On the best batting surface so far, India adopted the blueprint that has catapulted them to No. 2 in the rankings, playing the percentages, putting up a competitive total and then defending superbly with Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur leading the way.

One of the primary reasons for defeats in the first and third matches was the loss of three wickets in the first six overs. Asked to bat again, India’s approach was more commonsensical. There was no frenzied attempt to collar the high-quality England attack, but when the ball was there to be hit, the batsmen did so uninhibitedly.

Suryakumar Yadav was the undisputed star, his first hit in international cricket reaffirming his class and pedigree. He has had to wait a long time for his opportunity, but made an instant impact with a spectacular hooked first-ball six off Jofra Archer. That, and the inside-out drive over extra-cover off a Adil Rashid googly, spoke volumes of his trust in his strengths and his self-belief. Over the last few months, the attitude and composure of newcomers has been the most significant development in Indian cricket, with Suryakumar the latest addition to that glittering list.

Shreyas Iyer too played a special innings down the order. The Delhi Capitals captain knows he may not always get to bat at his preferred position for the national team, and has clearly worked on expanding his repertoire. His pyrotechnics, steeped in orthodoxy, lifted India to a par score when they might have liked 15 more, given that there was pronounced dew.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar got India off to a cracking start with a maiden first up, and Jos Buttler’s wicket in his second over, but England seemed on course with Jason Roy, and then Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes teeing off. The best dot-ball in any format is the one that brings a wicket, and when Shardul packed off the dangerous Stokes and the experienced Eoin Morgan in successive deliveries, India were back in the hunt.

No praise can be too high for Hardik Pandya, who only went for 16 in his four overs and picked up two wickets in a game where the scoring rate was well in excess of nine. Credit to him for having put in the hard yards following a major back surgery, and to bowling coach B Arun for ensuring Hardik retains his zest for bowling. Going forward, though, I still feel India should consider an extra bowling option.

The soft-signal dismissal of Suryakumar emerged as a huge talking point. I believe there must be a rethink on the soft signal as a whole. How can the on-field umpire state with any certainty that a catch has been taken cleanly 70 yards away when even technology leaves itself open to interpretation? 

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