Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav showered praise on Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah, lauding their performances as key to India’s T20 World Cup semifinal victory over England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The opening batter’s 89 off 42 balls was the backbone of India’s mammoth 253, while Bumrah’s 1/33 dented England’s chase at key points, despite Jacob Bethell’s fighting century.
“I think he knew what he wanted to do as soon as he went in to bat. Even when a wicket fell, he knew the wicket was good, so he kept pressing the pedal. The way he batted was exactly what the team required. It was due after all the hard work he’s been putting in over the last year. It was a special knock today,” Suryakumar said of Samson’s knock in the post-match presentation.
Suryakumar even spoke of how his bowlers were key in helping defend this total, especially singling out the ever-reliant Jasprit Bumrah.
“But honestly, it was a good wicket. The way they batted, I do not want to take credit away from them. They were always in the game and always in the chase. But the way Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and the other bowlers pulled the game back was unbelievable. We all know what he is capable of and what he has done for India over the years (on Bumrah). He did the same thing again today, raised his hand and showed character to pull the game away from them. It was a special bowling performance,” he said.
The Indian captain applauded fielding coach T Dilip’s work, after India’s efforts in the field, which included Axar Patel’s highlights-worthy catching.
“I think we need to give some credit to our fielding coach Dilip T as well. The way he’s been working with the boys in practice sessions, making them fun and competitive, the boys have responded really well. Even after their personal skill sessions, they put in extra work for the team, and that is showing on the field,” said Suryakumar.
On his decision to promote Shivam Dube to number four, he mentioned the importance of matchups and how only the top-three have a settled spot in the batting order.
“In this team, everything is settled till number three (on the left-right batting and the promotion of Shivam Dube), so we didn’t want to change anything. But when we saw [Adil] Rashid bowling from one end, Dube was a perfect match-up. Even if I had scored a 50 or 100 in the last game, if the team needed that change today, it was the right call,” he added.
India now head to Ahmedabad, where they face New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup. The co-hosts are looking to defend their crown from 2024 and becoming the first side to win this competition three times, while a Black Caps win would ensure their second ICC Trophy after the World Test Championship of 2021.
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