Suryakumar Yadav Praises Team Effort in T20I Victory Over Australia
Carrara, Queensland: India's captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has lauded the all-round performance of his team, particularly highlighting the batters' tactical awareness, following their 48-run victory over Australia in the fourth T20 International. The win, secured on Thursday, gives India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Yadav emphasized that the batters were aware that the Carrara Oval pitch was not conducive to a high-scoring game, requiring a more strategic approach. "I feel credit goes to all the batters. The way Shubman and Abhishek started, they knew this was not a 200-220 wicket. They batted very smartly. It was a complete team effort from the batters," Suryakumar said after the match.
Openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, known for their aggressive style, adapted well to the conditions, carefully assessing the pitch and laying a solid foundation with a 49-run powerplay. Gill ultimately top-scored with a cautious 46 off 39 balls. While the scoring rate wasn't explosive, their maturity allowed India to build a competitive total on a surface that offered grip and bounce. Shivam Dube (22 off 18) and Suryakumar Yadav (20 off 10) also contributed valuable runs to keep the scoreboard ticking. Crucial boundaries from Washington Sundar (12 off 7) and Axar Patel (21 off 11) in the death overs helped India reach 167 for eight.
Suryakumar also spoke about the shared understanding and clear planning within the team, particularly with head coach Gautam Gambhir. "The message is clear. Me and Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) bhai, we are on the same page," he stated. This alignment seems to have played a key role in India's approach to the game. He also praised the bowlers for adapting quickly to the presence of dew.
India's bowling attack delivered a disciplined performance, successfully defending the total. All-rounders Shivam Dube (2/20) and Washington Sundar (3/3) made significant contributions with the ball, claiming five wickets between them. Suryakumar highlighted the importance of having bowlers who can contribute a few overs each, praising the team's balance. "Always good to have bowlers give you 2-3 overs. This combination suits us. People chipping in, raising their hands, bailing their side is great," he added.
Despite the loss, Australia's captain Mitchell Marsh acknowledged India's all-round strength. "Fair play to India and they are a world-class team," Marsh said.
