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The absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma, maverick batter Virat Kohli and stylish willow-wielder KL Rahul didn't make any difference as India continued their domination in the bilateral T20I series. Under Hardik Pandya's leadership, the Men in Blue trounced Sri Lanka by 91 runs in the third T20I at SCA Stadium in Rajkot to win the series 2-1. It was a Suryakumar Yadav masterclass as the swashbuckling batter scored his third T20I century within six months to help India post a mammoth total of 228/5, which ultimately helped India to register their 12th bilateral T20I series win on the trot. The Mumbaikar remained unbeaten on 112 runs off 51 balls with the help of seven fours and nine sixes.
India were expected to win the series despite the big guns not being a part of the squad. After the 2022 T20 World Cup debacle, there have been numerous reports claiming that for superstars like Rohit and Virat, this might be the end of the road in the shortest format of the game.
After securing the series win, captain Hardik Pandya made a resounding statement that more or less highlighted that the Men in Blue are ready to move past Rohit and Virat in T20Is. The Indian all-rounder affirmed that the current squad boasted of players who are the 'best T20 cricketers' in the country.
"My motto in life as captain has been that I'll back my players. These are the best T20 cricketers in India and that's why they are here. There is no space for doubting in this format and we're backing the players properly," Hardik said at the post-match presentation.
The Indian skipper also lavished immense praise on Suryakumar, who continues to sparkle in a manner that no batter has in the past.
"I think he has been surprising everyone every innings that he is batting. He is just telling us that batting is so easy. If I were bowling to him, I'd be disheartened on seeing his batting, with the shot he plays. He has played blinders after blinders," Hardik said.
"You don't need to tell him anything, he knows what to do. If there is any situation where he is unsure, we have our chats but more often than not, he knows what to do," he added.
India will now lock horns against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, starting January 10. Rohit, Virat, Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah are all part of India's ODI squad.
