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Suryakumar Yadav's India hammered Australia by five wickets in the third T20I at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart to level the five-match series at 1-1, setting the stage for a dramatic contest in the next match scheduled for Carrara on November 6. Team India won the toss and elected to bowl first, making three strategic changes to their playing XI by bringing in Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, and Arshdeep Singh for Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, and Harshit Rana.
Suryakumar Yadav happy with India's winning 'team combination'
Arshdeep provided India with a sensational start, immediately making an impact by claiming two wickets in his first two overs. However, this early advantage was negated by a fierce Australian counterattack. Tim David staged a powerful comeback with a sensational 74 runs, followed by a strong contribution from Marcus Stoinis (64 runs) and a quickfire 26 from Matthew Short, helping Australia post a competitive total of 186/6. Arshdeep was the most successful Indian bowler with 3/35, supported by Varun Chakravarthy (2/33) and Shivam Dube (1/43).
Chasing the target, India delivered a composed and aggressive batting performance to seal the victory with nine balls remaining. Key contributions came from the top and middle order, including Abhishek Sharma (25), Suryakumar Yadav (24), and Tilak Varma (29). The chase was finished off strongly by Washington Sundar (49∗) and Jitesh Sharma (22∗)
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Suryakumar admitted that India had the right combination which helped them return to winning way.
"(On finally winning the toss) Yes, it felt like we’d lost 19 or 20 tosses in a row, so it was great to break that streak. Winning the toss was important today, and I’m really happy with how the team performed."
Suryakumar Yadav on Team Depth and Future Strategy
Following the crucial victory, Suryakumar praised the effectiveness of the three changes India made for the match, noting that the inclusion of Jitesh Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar was highly successful as all three contributed significantly. He hinted at a longer rope for these players going forward, reflecting his confidence in the team's depth. Furthermore, Suryakumar emphasised the importance of building crucial partnerships, comparing the combination of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep in the bowling department to the partnership of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma in batting.
"(On the changes working) Absolutely. Those guys were practising really hard and waiting for their chance. Washi (Washington Sundar) showed great flexibility, Jitesh contributed well, and Arshdeep was outstanding. It felt like the right combination tonight."
"Yes, they’re a fantastic pair (Bumrah and Arshdeep)- a bit like Shubman and Abhishek up top. Bumrah does his job quietly, keeps it tight, and Arshdeep capitalizes from the other end. Together, they’re a really lethal combination. It’s (series at 1-1) set up beautifully. We’re heading to a new venue, so it’ll be a fresh challenge, but the boys are confident and enjoying their cricket," he concluded.
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