SL vs IND, 3rd ODI: Well worth the wait for a debut series, says Suryakumar Yadav

Batsman Suryakumar Yadav says the experience gained during his debut series in Sri Lanka will be useful for his career ahead.

Suryakumar Yadav scored 40 in the third ODI against Sri Lanka on Friday. - REUTERS

India's Suryakumar Yadav said he would build on his experience in Sri Lanka in his career ahead after a fruitful debut One-Day International series.

The 30-year-old batsman clinched the man-of-the-series award for scoring 124 runs - with a highest score of 53 - in the three-match series. India lost the third ODI by three wickets on Friday but clinched the rubber 2-1.

SL vs IND, 3rd ODI - AS IT HAPPENED

"Obviously, everyone dreams of playing for India. And it has been a lot of effort, grind, a lot of patience behind this. And it has been worth the wait and I am really happy about it," Suryakumar said at the virtual post-match press conference on Friday.

"From here on how I build it, it is all in my hands, and I am really excited for the journey ahead."

'Disappointed'

Suryakumar, however, was disappointed at not being able to get a big score. "The way I started in the first game, I got good confidence and in the second game, it was a perfect situation in the middle to win a game for the team, but that time also, it was not the way I play and I got out," he said.

"Really disappointed with that. And in the third game also, it was a good opportunity, wickets were falling from one end, to hold one end and try and play till the end, but could not do it.

"So that's the two things I am really keeping in mind, how do I build from here, but that is how you learn and move forward."

REPORT - First win for SL in a home ODI versus India in nine years

Suryakumar, who made his T20I debut earlier this year against England, attributed his variety of strokes to being a Mumbai player. "Whenever you grow up in Mumbai, the types of wickets you get over there in club games and in domestic cricket, they are very challenging, so there you automatically have to think what strokes you have to play on those kind of wickets.

"The same thing I have been carrying to international stage as well and I will be doing the same thing."

'Shaw stopper'

Suryakumar praised opener Prithvi Shaw and young legspinner Rahul Chahar, who picked three wickets in his debut game.

"I have only one word for him (Shaw) whenever I see him bat or whenever I meet him, I call him a 'show stopper'. So whenever he bats, he is that way and I would love to see him remain the same," he said.

 

"He is batting brilliantly, his attitude while batting is brilliant, he has worked very hard on his fitness and it is good to see him doing so well and I am excited about it and we are really looking forward to seeing him in T20s," he said.

Commenting on Chahar, Yadav said: "He has been doing it now and then for us in the Mumbai Indians also. He has got a lot of confidence from them. The way he was supported by our team management (MI), that was really nice to see and when he came back, he came with a man-of-the-match performance.

"Same culture was here as well (sic), he was playing his first ODI, there was a lot of support from team management [and] all the players on the field. I was happy to see him bowl so well. There was a little bit of dew as well, the wicket was not [very] helpful for bowlers but he extracted spin really well from the wicket and I am happy for him," he signed off.

The three-match T20 series will start on Sunday at the same venue.

India lost too many wickets in the middle overs - Dhawan India captain Shikhar Dhawan said his team lost too many wickets in the middle overs and was 50 runs short in the third ODI against Sri Lanka. Opting to bat, India was bundled out for 225, with Sri Lankan spinners Akila Dananjaya (3 for 44) and Praveen Jayawickrama (3 for 59) wreaking havoc in the middle overs. Sri Lanka rode on opener Avishka Fernando’s patient 76 to overhaul the target with eight overs to spare. "Things didn't go our way after the rain break. We had a good start but lost too many wickets in the middle overs. Think we were 50 runs short," Dhawan said at the post-match presentation. The rain break at the end of the 23rd over, which reduced the game to 47 overs per side, helped the home team. The pitch suddenly had a bit of freshness and the ball would both grip and skid, making life easier for the Sri Lankan spinners, who rocked the middle-order. Dhawan said he was happy with the way his players fought till the end. "We were positive about defending the target but at the same time, we knew we were 50 runs short. I am happy with the way the boys fought," he said. "I always analyse where I can improve and get better." India played five debutants in the game, the only second such instance in its ODI history. "I am glad that they made their debut because everyone has been in the quarantine for a long time," Dhawan said. "So we had that opportunity today having sealed the series."

 

Happy to win after nine years - Shanaka Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said his team was happy to win an ODI against India on home soil after nine years. "Congratulation to India for the series win. It was a very good series throughout. Young guys showed a lot of maturity, both with bat and ball and that's what I expect from them," he said. "It's a big win for fans, they were waiting for years for this win; we have won against India at home after quite some time."