IND vs SL: Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav 'Turning' the victory for India - How did it Happen?

Gautam Gambhir has been known for his innovative style of thinking in cricket. Five close-in fielders for MS Dhoni to opening with Sunil Narine, cricket world has witnessed some level of weird yet effective strategies from the former India player.

But what happened at the Pallekele Stadium on Tuesday was beyond imagination. Two of India's most destructive T20 batters won the match, but with the ball in their hand!

It was indeed a stellar performance from the Indian team to force the 3rd T20I against Sri Lanka to Super Over. After 137 runs on the board, the hosts were the favourites. And when they needed 23 off the last four overs with 8 wickets in hand, most of the people conceded the match for India, except the players on the field and perhaps the coaching staff.

Washington Sundar took a couple of wickets in the 17th over, but Khaleel's 12-run over in the 18th seemed to have sealed the deal for Sri Lanka. With 9 needed in the last two overs and only pacers to use, Suryakumar Yadav turned to Rinku Singh.

Although it seemed an astonishing decision at the time, it has proven to be a masterstroke.

Rinku Singh brace in the 19th Over

Rinku bowled his first over in T20I cricket, his 2nd in international cricket overall. And what did he do? The ever-smiling southpaw picked up two wickets and conceded only 3 runs in the penultimate over of the match. The dangerous Kusal Perera departed while slogging and then Ramesh Mendis was also held out in the deep.

Suryakumar leading from the front in 20th Over

As the final over approached, Sri Lanka needed 6 runs in it with four wickets in hand. Suryakumar Yadav again made an unthinkable move. He brought on himself to bowl the final over instead of Mohammed Siraj or Khaleel Ahmed - two frontline pacers.

He got the wicket of Kamindu Mendis in the second ball, and then followed that up with another wicket of Maheesh Theekshana. The hosts were staring down a defeat with six needed in three balls, but Chamindu Wickramasinghe got a brace each in the last two deliveries to squeeze out a Super Over.

What happened in the Super Over?

Another masterstroke from Suryakumar Yadav and perhaps the head coach Gautam Gambhir sealed the deal. Washington Sundar was introduced to bowl and he picked up two wickets in consecutive deliveries as Sri Lanka got bundled out for just 2 runs. Suryakumar came to bat and swept towards fine leg in the first ball. A misfield took the ball to run away for a boundary and India completed the whitewash.

Despite being known for their batting prowess, both Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh pulled off absolute brilliance with the ball. Sri Lanka completely capitulated in the final overs and the Indian players showed immense grit and came out with distinction numbers in the crunch situation.

India coach Gautam Gambhir will be ecstatic with the performance, given the way his team reacted amid adversities. The Indian team with this victory has started the Gautam Gambhir-Suryakumar Yadav era in T20 cricket with three wins in a row. It is to be seen how they replicate the performance into the 50-over series as the ODI assignment starts from August 2.