In a thrilling Twenty20 match against Australia on Thursday in Visakhapatnam, India captain Suryakumar Yadav scored an innings of 80 off 42 balls, and opener Rinku Singh played a flawless cameo to enable the hosts overcome an Australian best of 209.
On his captaincy debut, Suryakumar hit nine fours and four sixes to help India win the match with two wickets remaining and a one-run lead in the five-match series.
With seven needed from the final over, India lost three straight wickets, including two run-outs on balls four and five, until chase-master Rinku bowled a no-ball to send the team into victory.
In 2019, India’s greatest chase of 208 against the West Indies was surpassed by a run off the no-ball when Rinku, a left-hand batsman who hit 22 off 14 balls, hammered a six that was not counted.
“I’m really pleased with how the lads showed their abilities on the pitch. Suryakumar remarked of the victory, “We were under pressure, but the way everyone got back into the game, was wonderful.
Speaking on taking on the role of captain for India, Suryakumar stated, “It’s a proud moment, whenever you play cricket, you think of representing India, it will take some time to sink in but very proud.”
Following the hosts’ openers’ 22-ball loss, Suryakumar’s 112-run partnership with Ishan Kishan, who hit a 39-ball 58, proved crucial.
Four days had passed since Australia’s unprecedented sixth ODI World Cup victory against India in the final.
Josh Inglis, allowed to bat first on a batting-friendly wicket, crushed 110 off 50 balls for his maiden international century, leading Australia to 208-3.
After losing a wicket early on, Australia’s batsmen, led by Inglis (who hit 110 off 50 balls) and Steve Smith (who reached 52 before being run out), hit 130 runs off 67 balls in a brilliant stand.
As he sprang and punched the air, Inglis lifted his fifty off 29 balls and finished his hundred in 47 balls, drawing cheers from the Australian dressing room.
After an innings filled with eight sixes and eleven fours, he was eventually dismissed by fast bowler Prasidh Krishna.
Matthew Wade, the captain of Australia, praised Inglis for his outstanding innings.
“I told him not to imagine that would happen, even if he wanted to fall. An enormous knock.”
In preparation for the June T20 World Cup, Australia rested a number of its key ODI players, including Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, and Adam Zampa.
In Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday is the second Twenty20 match.