'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav came up with a light-hearted response when asked whether he would be seen bowling in the T20I series against Bangladesh at home. He smiled and replied that such a situation would hopefully not arise.
India will take on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series starting in Gwalior on Sunday, October 6. In their previous T20I assignment, the Men in Blue had thumped Sri Lanka 3-0 in an away series.
While India won the first two matches by convincing margins, the third T20I went down to the wire. Unexpectedly, Rinku Singh and Suryakumar bowled the last two overs and picked up two wickets each as the match ended in a dramatic tie. Asked if fans can see the Indian captain turning his arm over during the T20Is versus Bangladesh, he cheekily replied:
"Hopefully, it won't come to that (smiles). But yeah, we enjoyed it. We were 2-0 up in the series, but at the same time, we thought let's do something different. We had a few overs left of the fast bowlers, but I wanted to do something different at that moment because the wicket was turning. Just took a chance and it worked really well."
Sri Lanka were set a target of 138 to win the third and final T20I in Pallekele. They were well placed at 110-1 in the 16th over but crumbled to finish on 137-8 as Suryakumar and Rinku combined to pick up four wickets in the last two overs. India went on to win the Super Over to clinch the series 3-0.
"It's good if batters can send down one or two overs" - Suryakumar Yadav
While discussing versatility in a squad, Suryakumar admitted that it makes a genuine difference if there are batters in the team who can bowl a bit. The 34-year-old asserted that almost everyone in the current Indian T20I squad can bowl a couple of overs.
"It's good if batters can send down one or two overs. In this squad, I think there is hardly anyone who doesn't bowl a little. It gives you options. As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone has the skills to bowl in pressure situation, then this is the platform,” the Indian T20I skipper commented.
Apart from the frontline bowlers and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, India have several additional bowling options like Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Shivam Dube for the T20Is against Bangladesh.
