The Indian cricket team wrapped up their T20I series against Bangladesh in emphatic style, clinching a dominant 133-run victory in the third and final match in Hyderabad. Winning the toss, captain Suryakumar Yadav opted to bat first, and the Indian batters put on a masterclass, posting a colossal total of 297/6—the highest-ever T20I score by a Test-playing nation. Sanju Samson led the charge with a breathtaking maiden T20I century, scoring 111 off just 47 balls. His partnership with Suryakumar (75 off 35) produced a monumental 173-run stand for the second wicket, leaving Bangladesh's bowlers hapless on a night where nothing went their way.

Despite losing both Samson and Suryakumar in quick succession, India maintained their momentum with explosive finishes from Hardik Pandya (47 off 18) and Riyan Parag (34 off 13), adding vital runs in the death overs. Bangladesh, who had been outclassed in all departments throughout the series, crumbled under the pressure once again, failing to put up a fight in the chase. India's comprehensive win not only secured a clean sweep but also marked their third-biggest victory margin in T20Is, sending the team into celebration mode as they dominated the series from start to finish.

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Decoding India's Explosive Batting Display in the Final T20I

India's dominating performance against Bangladesh in the final T20I of the 2024 series was exemplified by their incredible ability to clear the boundary at will. The above image provides a breakdown of India’s six-hitting prowess during their mammoth total of 297/6. It captures the key contact points where the batters connected with the ball to send it flying over the ropes for sixes, highlighting just how aggressively the Indian top-order and middle-order approached the game. These sixes played a pivotal role in setting up India's third-largest victory margin in T20Is.

The image reveals that a significant number of sixes were hit from deliveries pitched in a particular zone around the stumps. As indicated by the 54.5% figure on the image, more than half of the sixes came from balls in this primary hitting arc. The orange dots represent where Indian batters connected with the ball to launch their sixes, and they are densely concentrated in this highlighted area. This shows that the Bangladesh bowlers frequently bowled within the range where Indian batters could swing freely and clear the boundary with ease.

The variety of six-hitting points, however, also illustrates the versatility of the Indian batters. While many sixes came from the traditional off-stump region, several were struck from deliveries that were wide outside off or full-pitched deliveries closer to the stumps. This reflects the adaptability of the batters, as they could take on different types of deliveries and still find ways to muscle the ball for maximum runs. The spread of contact points across the graph showcases India’s all-round aggression, with players using innovative strokes to maximize run-scoring opportunities.

This aggressive approach was led by Sanju Samson, who struck a maiden T20I century (111 off 47), and captain Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed a quick-fire 75 off 35 balls. Together, they stitched a massive 173-run partnership that laid the foundation for India's record-breaking score. The sixes highlighted in the graph are a testament to their dominance, as they consistently found ways to dispatch the ball to the boundary, keeping Bangladesh’s bowlers under constant pressure.

In conclusion, the above image captures the essence of India’s T20I batting blueprint—brutal aggression, a fearless mindset, and an ability to hit sixes from varied deliveries. India’s clinical display of power-hitting helped them post a colossal total, which ultimately paved the way for a massive 133-run victory, completing a clean sweep of the series. The graph not only serves as a visual representation of the match's carnage but also as a reflection of how India has mastered the art of attacking T20 cricket.

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Indian batters had no mercy in the last game of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh at Hyderabad, as the hosts recorded the second-highest total in T20I cricket history. 

Leading the series by 2-0, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to bat first, and India scored 297/6 in 20 overs. 

Although the opening batter Abhishek Sharma was dismissed in the third over after scoring four runs, the Indian batters then totally dominated the Bangladesh bowlers. 

Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav had a 173-run partnership 

India scored 82/1 in the powerplay and scored 100 runs in 7.1 overs. When India scored 119/1 in 8.3 overs, the floodlight failure stopped the game for a while. Before that stoppage, Samson had already completed his half-century in 22 balls.

In the restart, the Indian batters continued their bashing. In the 10th over, Samson thrashed the leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for five consecutive sixes. 

Captain Suryakumar Yadav completed his half-century in 23 balls, while Samson completed his maiden T20I hundred and fourth T20 century in just 40 balls. Samson became the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to record a T20I century, and he also recorded India's second-fastest T20I hundred. 

After scoring 111 off 47 balls with the help of 11 fours and eight sixes, Samson was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman. Before his wicket, Samson and Suryakumar had an unforgettable 173-run partnership for the second wicket. 

While Samson was dismissed in the 14th over, Suryakumar was out in the next over after scoring 75 runs off 35 balls with the help of eight fours and five sixes. 

Riyan Parag and Hardik Pandya utilised the situation perfectly

Despite their dismissal, the next Indian batters continued the run flow as the visitors had no clue. Riyan Parag and Hardik Pandya had a quick-fire 70-run partnership in just 4.1 overs for the fourth wicket. 

Parag scored 34 runs off just 13 balls with one four and four sixes. On the other hand, Hardik scored 47 runs off 18 balls with four fours and four sixes.

Among the Bangladesh bowlers, Tanzim Hasan Sakib took three wickets and finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-66-3. Out of his three wickets, he picked up two wickets in consecutive deliveries during the last over of the innings.

Highest T20I totals

Suryakumar Yadav is set to play in the final round of the Duleep Trophy 2024/25. He has been cleared by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The final round of the Duleep Trophy 2024/25 will begin Thursday (September 19), where India B will face India D, and India A and India C will take on each other. Both the matches will be played in Anatapur. 

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Suryakumar Yadav is replacing Sarfaraz Khan in India B

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Suryakumar will replace Sarfaraz Khan in India B. While Khan is in the Indian team squad for the first Test of the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19, Suryakymar will replace him in the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led team. 

Earlier, Suryakumar was named in the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India C team for the first round of the Duleep Trophy 2024/25. But he was ruled out from the first round and second rounds of the ongoing Duleep Trophy due to a thumb injury. During the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational in Coimbatore, Suryakumar got an injury while fielding.

Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is desperate for his Test comeback

The 34-year-old Suryakumar Yadav is the new T20I captain of the Indian national cricket team. During the India tour of Sri Lanka last July, he led the Indian team in the three-match T20I series, which India won by a 3-0 margin. 

As he is fit, Suryakumar is likely to lead the Indian team in the forthcoming home T20I series against Bangladesh, starting on October 6. India will also tour South Africa early in November to play a four-match T20I series.

However, Suryakumar wants to represent his national team in all three formats, as he is desperate to make his Test comeback. In February 2023, he made his Test debut during the Nagpur Test against Australia, where the right-handed batter scored eight runs. Since then, Suryakumar has been waiting for his next opportunity in Test cricket. 

The three-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka began on Saturday, July 27, in Pallekele. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first against the world champions.

New captains lead the way

This match starts a new chapter for both teams as they have new T20I captains. Suryakumar Yadav has taken over from Rohit Sharma as India’s T20I captain after Rohit retired from the format. Charith Asalanka is the new captain for Sri Lanka, following Wanindu Hasaranga’s resignation after their poor T20 World Cup performance, where they didn’t advance past the group stage.

“We are going to bowl first. The pitch looks good, and we want to see how it plays. We’re going with a 6-5 batters-bowlers combination. I want to give each player specific roles, so we’re using five bowlers. You can expect more wins and consistency,” said Asalanka after winning the toss.

Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson left out

India’s new team management surprised everyone with their team selection. Allrounder Shivam Dube and star batter Sanju Samson were left out of the Playing XI for the series opener. Dube played in all eight of India’s games at the T20 World Cup last month, and Samson was also part of the squad.

Despite some good performances, Dube seems to need to prove himself to the new management. Instead of Dube, the team has given young Riyan Parag another chance to shine in international cricket.

Twitter reactions:

Fans on Twitter shared their reactions after Shubman Gill was named the vice-captain of the Indian Cricket Team for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The team will play three T20Is and three ODIs during this tour.

Shubman Gill, who recently led the team in the Zimbabwe tour has been given the additional role of vice-captain for the Sri Lanka tour. He will hold this position in both formats.

Surprising Vice-Captaincy choice

Gill being chosen over Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul as vice-captain in ODIs was a big surprise. There were rumors that if Rohit Sharma was unavailable, KL Rahul would lead the team. However, these rumors were put to rest with the squad announcement.

Hardik Pandya has had an impressive cricketing journey, having won the IPL trophy as the captain of the Mumbai Indians and leading the team to the final in his second season in that role. He also served as the captain of the Indian T20I team for over a year, showcasing his leadership skills on the international stage.

In the T20 World Cup 2024, he was recognized as the Most Valuable Player for India, further highlighting his talent and contributions.

The dynamic duo of Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav continues to leave their mark on cricket. Previously, Gambhir served as the captain and Suryakumar as the vice-captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), leading the team with their combined strategic acumen.

Now, in a twist of roles at the international level, Suryakumar is the captain of the Indian T20I team, with Gambhir stepping in as the coach. This enduring partnership promises to bring their proven synergy and leadership to the national stage.

Fans on Twitter had mixed reactions to Shubman Gill being named vice-captain of the India team for the Sri Lanka tour. Some were happy with the decision, while others were disappointed. Here are some of their reactions:

The T20 side of the Indian Team are in the transition phase as soon after they clinched the T20 World Cup trophy, veteran duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli alongside Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from the T20 format. And, in the senior players’ absence, youngsters won the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe by 4-1 recently.

However, there are speculations over the new captain as well and a meeting was held between new head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. Hardik Pandya, India’s vice-captain in the T20 World Cup, was the first choice to take over the reins from Rohit Sharma but things changed as now India’s No.1 ranked batter Suryakumar Yadav, and not Hardik Pandya, has become the front-runner as India’s T20I captain as well.

And, he came on the radar of the chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir at Thursday evening’s selection meeting as well. Gautam Gambhir, however, had an informal call with the BCCI officials and the selection committee on Tuesday evening about the roadmap ahead. It is understood that it was during that call that Gambhir and Agarkar decided to pick Surya’s name as a probable candidate to replace Rohit as the T20I leader as well.

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma comments on his retirement plans after quitting T20Is

“Agarkar was clear with his views,” – BCCI official on Gautam Gambhir’s plan

Meanwhile, it is noted that Gambhir did not take Surya’s name directly but he made it clear that he would prefer a captain whose workload management is not a concern as well. With Surya being a white-ball specialist and the best batter in the format after Rohit and Kohli’s retirement, it was a clear pick as well.

“Although Gambhir did not directly pitch for Surya in the call, he made it amply clear that he would want to work with a captain whose workload does not become a stumbling block. Agarkar was clear with his views,” a BCCI official told Hindustan Times.

However, the selection committee is known to be split with some for Hardik Pandya to be appointed captain as he was the World Cup-winning vice-captain. It was also reasoned that Hardik’s performances were not so good in the World Cup after he had a poor IPL as well.

Moreover, Hardik is injury-prone and he was out of action for nearly six months after suffering an ankle injury during the early stages of the ODI World Cup last year as well. However, Gambhir and Agarkar spoke to Hardik Pandya after the meeting on Tuesday to let him know about the latest developments as well.

India’s rising stars Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill made big jumps in the ICC T20I rankings after their impressive performances on the Zimbabwe tour. Jaiswal moved up four spots to reach 6th place with 743 points, just behind Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. Travis Head stayed at the top of the rankings, with Suryakumar Yadav and England’s Phil Salt tied for second with 797 points each.

Shubman Gill, who captained India for the series, climbed a remarkable 36 places to secure the 37th spot. This made him the fourth highest ranked Indian in T20I, ahead of Rohit Sharma (42nd) and Virat Kohli (51st), who recently retired from T20I cricket. Gill now trails only Suryakumar Yadav (2nd), Jaiswal (6th), and Ruturaj Gaikwad (8th) among Indian batters.

Jaiswal and Gill shine in ICC T20I rankings

Gill and Jaiswal seized their opportunities, emerging as top run scorers in the series. Gill was the leading run scorer with 170 runs in five matches, boasting a strike rate of 125.93 and an average of 42.50.

Impressive performances on the Zimbabwe tour

After missing the first two T20Is, Jaiswal made a splash with an unbeaten 93 in the fourth T20I, scoring a total of 141 runs in three matches at an average of 70.50 and an impressive strike rate of 165.88. Their contributions helped India win the five match series against Zimbabwe 4-1.

Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani also saw a rise, moving up 11 places to 44th in the T20I bowlers rankings. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar climbed 36 spots to 46th, and Mukesh Kumar moved up 21 places to 73rd.

England’s Adil Rashid remained the top ranked T20I bowler, while Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza rise to third in the all-rounders rankings after his strong performances against India.

Star India batter Suryakumar Yadav is all set to be appointed India’s new T20I captain before Hardik Pandya for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Suryakumar will take over from Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement from T20Is, along with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, after leading India to a T20 World Cup win in the Caribbean last month as well.

Though Hardik Pandya was Rohit Sharma’s deputy at the T20 World Cup and he is a more experienced captain considering he has led India in three ODIs and 16 T20Is so far. Moreover, he led Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in the IPL as well. However, it is understood fitness concerns and workload management may have gone against him.

Notably, Hardik Pandya suffered an ankle injury during the 50-over World Cup last year and he was out of action until the start of IPL 2024 when he returned to lead Mumbai Indians as well. Hardik has played just 46 of the 79 T20Is India have played since the start of 2022 as well.

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma comments on his retirement plans after quitting T20Is

Suryakumar Yadav has experience of leading Mumbai in the domestic circuit

Suryakumar Yadav, meanwhile, has led Mumbai in the domestic circuit. More recently, he led India to a 4-1 series win over Australia in the T20I series last November as well, followed by a 1-1 series in South Africa too. He is also among the first names in a first-choice India XI in the shortest format.

Meanwhile, the T20Is in Sri Lanka will be the first assignment of India’s new coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over the reins from Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup. This will also be the first step towards building for the next T20 World Cup which India will co-host in 2026.

On the other hand, a young Indian squad, led by Shubman Gill, beat Zimbabwe earlier in the week with a 4-1 T20I series win. The squad included only three players from the side that won the World Cup as well whereas a few young players earned their maiden call-up too.

However, Gautam Gambhir had a meeting with the national selection committee recently which was held online, with Gambhir participating from his home in New Delhi as well. Meanwhile, there is some indication that Rohit Sharma may play the three ODIs in August as there are not many ODIs before the Champions Trophy next February-March. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli have been granted rest for the Sri Lanka series as well.

As per the recent reports, India’s star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya has informed BCCI about not playing the ODI series against Sri Lanka due to personal reasons. However, he will most likely be available to lead Team India in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka starting on 27 July. Moreover, it has been understood that in his absence KL Rahul will take over his role for the ODI series.

Meanwhile, the reason for his absence is yet to be revealed. However, Hardik Pandya has seen highs and lows in his career in the past six months. He was appointed captain of Mumbai Indians ahead of the season and failed to leave a mark as well. He faced humiliation for that from fans and people booed him as well.

But, he has some other plans and he did exceptionally well in the T20 World Cup. His all-round contribution helped India win the T20 World Cup as well.

While we await an official statement, there have been reports that Suryakumar Yadav could lead the team in T20Is after Rohit Sharma retired from the T20 format after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup 2024.

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma comments on his retirement plans after quitting T20Is

Hardik Pandya to lead the team in the T20 series

On the other hand, according to News18 Cricketnext, Yadav’s name was not discussed and Pandya is all set to captain India in T20Is in Sri Lanka. Pandya is also ‘fully fit’ but he will miss the ODIs due to personal reasons.

However, Hardik Pandya had led India in the majority of their T20 series after both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli decided to step away from the T20I format following Team India’s semi-final exit in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Surya had also stepped in as captain for the five-match T20I series against Australia after the ODI World Cup at home and the T20I series against South Africa, with Pandya out of action due to an ankle injury.

“Pandya is going to lead India in T20Is. Pandya was Rohit’s deputy in the World Cup and prior to that, when Rohit was on a break from international T20Is, he was leading the side. The selectors haven’t had any discussions on that and it was more of a no-brainer. No discussions have happened as far as Suryakumar Yadav is concerned and he is certainly not in the mix for captaincy in any format at this stage,” a BCCI source told.

The upcoming tour of Sri Lanka starts with a three-match T20I series on 27 July, followed by as many ODIs starting on 2nd August as well.

During the T20 World Cup celebration at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan, Rohit Sharma brought some humor to the event. He shared a funny moment about Suryakumar Yadav’s catch in the final against South Africa that left everyone, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, laughing heartily in Marathi.

Rohit Sharma, the captain of Team India delighted the members of Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan during the felicitation ceremony for the T20 World Cup champions. He was warmly welcomed with chants of ‘Mumbai Cha Raja Rohit Sharma’, creating a lively atmosphere akin to fans at Wankhede Stadium.

Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other dignitaries for honoring Mumbai’s cricket stars, Rohit Sharma kept the mood light with his speech. He couldn’t resist making a joke about Suryakumar Yadav’s memorable catch in the final match.

The event at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai saw four members of the victorious T20 World Cup team Rohit Sharma, Shivam Dube, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Suryakumar Yadav being honored. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had also felicitated the players at his residence, presenting them with shawls and idols of Lord Ganesha.

Rohit Sharma’s light-hearted moment at maharashtra vidhan bhavan

“After Surya caught the ball, he joked that it almost slipped out of his hands. Thank goodness it didn’t, or I might have had to bench him!” Rohit Sharma’s remark sparked laughter throughout the assembly, becoming a viral moment on social media.

Both Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav spoke in Marathi during the ceremony, adding a personal touch. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar acknowledged Rohit Sharma’s humor, acknowledging how crucial Suryakumar’s catch had been in the final over, keeping the nation on edge until the last moment.

The felicitation took place in the Central Hall, attended by legislators and assembly staff, where Captain Rohit Sharma and the team were honored alongside the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Rohit Sharma was referring to Suryakumar Yadav’s crucial catch during the final over of the match in Barbados on June 29. Suryakumar’s incredible composure and skill at the boundary rope saved a critical moment when David Miller aimed for a six. This catch was pivotal as it dashed South Africa’s hopes of winning, with the Proteas falling short by 7 runs despite needing just 30 runs in the last 5 overs.

Suryakumar’s catch was compared to Kapil Dev’s iconic catch in the 1983 World Cup final against West Indies. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a breakfast meeting with the T20 World Cup champions in New Delhi, praised the significance of this catch in the final over.