IND vs AUS, 1st T20I: Suryakumar Yadav keeps ‘Captaincy baggage’ in dressing room during India’s thrilling win

Chasing 209, India rode on Suryakumar Yadav’s 80, Ishan Kishan’s 58 and Rinku Singh’s final heroics in a two-wicket win.

Suryakumar Yadav celebrates after reaching fifty against Australia in the first T20I. (Image; BCCI)

Visakhapatnam: Suryakumar Yadav, who led India for the first time, opined that he had left the ‘captaincy baggage’ in the dressing room as his 42-ball 80 laid the platform for India’s successful chase of 209 in the first T20I against Australia on Thursday. Ishan Kishan’s fifty and Rinku Singh’s heroics in the final also played a role in India’s victory as the Men in Blue took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Sent to bat first, Australia rode on Josh Inglis’ first T20I hundred and Steve Smith’s fifty to post 208/3 in 20 overs. In reply, India lost both openers before Suryakumar and Kishan put on 112 runs for the third wicket.

Although Kishan was dismissed for 58, SKY kept the scoreboard going with his 16th T20I fifty before being bowled out for 80 with 14 needed from the last two overs. But Axar Patel made a big mistake and players like Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh were also exhausted in no time.

With a single still needed on the last delivery, Sean Abbott was put in the stands by Rinku, but to everyone’s delight it turned out to be a big no-ball and therefore the maximum was not counted. So India won with a ball to spare.

What stood out, however, was Rinku’s fearlessness and sense of occasion and execution under pressure. ‘I thought there would be a little dew, but that wasn’t the case. It’s not a big field and I knew hitting was going to be easy. Thought they might get 230-235 but the bowlers did very well. Just enjoy and express yourself,” Suryakumar said after the match.

“We have been in such situations many times in franchise cricket and told Ishan to enjoy it. We knew what was going to happen. I left the captain’s luggage in the locker room. I try to enjoy my percussion. The atmosphere was great, partly thanks to the audience. It was great to see how the boys held their nerves.

“It was great to see Rinku, the situation was tailor-made for him. He was calm and collected, calmed me down a bit. An incredible performance by the bowlers to restrict them to this total after the 16th over,” added SKY, who became India’s 13th T20I men’s captain.

Asked about his feelings about his new role, the Mumbai Indians batsman said it will take time to sink in. “It’s a proud moment, a very proud moment. Every time you play you think about representing India, but coming here and captaining India is a big moment,” he added.