India registered a massive 168-run victory against New Zealand to seal the three-match T20I series on Wednesday. The Men in Blue dominated all three departments of the game in a must-win situation. While Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi handled the batting department and Hardik Panya led the bowling unit, Suryakumar Yadav was at his best in the field.
The 32-year-old took three spectacular catches as the visitors crumbled. During the game, commentators Sanjay Manjrekar and Sunil Gavaskar praised India’s performance, particularly Suryakumar’s first two catches.
On the fifth delivery of the first over, Finn Allen received a length delivery from Hardik, outside off, which he edged over the first slip, but Suryakumar had other ideas. He perfectly timed his jump and plucked the ball out of thin air.
In the third over, his next catch completely floored the commentators. Glenn Phillips received a hard length ball from Hardik outside off on the fourth delivery of the over, which he tried to cut but instead got a thick outside edge, and Suryakumar completed a flying catch at first slip to send the batter back to the pavilion.
Here are Suryakumar Yadav’s catches
Suryakumar Yadav has taken 2 similar catches at slips – excellent catch. pic.twitter.com/8EWY0uIxKd
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 1, 2023
— Anna 24GhanteChaukanna (@Anna24GhanteCh2) February 2, 2023
Manjrekar exclaimed after the catch in the third over, “Now is that action-replay? Fairytale stuff this. Good ball to begin with and another sensational catch!”
“Top-class catching. The length and the line around the off-stump. This is a pitch where there is a little extra carry for the proper bowlers and that is what Hardik Pandya is doing. He is hitting the ball into the pitch and getting that extra bounce and again the timing of the jump. Unbelievable again. It looks like an action replay of that first catch, which got rid of Finn Allen. This a big wicket”, Gavaskar added.
Shubman Gill was in blistering form, smashing an unbeaten 126-run knock off 63 balls. Rahul Tripathi, meanwhile, scored 44 runs off 22 deliveries to help India to a total of 234-4. In reply, the Black Caps completely crumbled as Pandya’s four-wicket haul restricted them to a score of 66, handing India a 168-run victory.
