India preferred to rest their regular bowlers for Sunday’s inconsequential third and final T20I in Nottingham as they had already sealed the series.
The decision looked justified considering India's bid to firm up their squad and strengthen their reserve bench going into this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. But barring leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2/30), who kept focusing on the right line coming in for Yuzvendra Chahal, the others faltered.
England piled up 215 for 7 after winning the toss and opting to bat, with Dawid Malan (77) and Liam Livingstone (42 not out) being their chief contributors.
In reply, India were wobbling at 31 for 3 in five overs. But then came a breathtaking, sensational knock from Suryakumar Yadav (117 off 55 balls) that took India quite close to the daunting target before England restricted them to 198 for 9.
Yes, England avoided a whitewash, winning the game by 17 runs. But they were given a massive scare by Suryakumar, who churned out an innings that should go down as one of the best-ever in T20I cricket.
With brilliant use of his wrists and magical timing, Suryakumar carted the English bowling attack to all corners, hammering 14 fours and six maximums. He didn’t get enough support from the other end with Shreyas Iyer (replacing all-rounder Hardik Pandya), Dinesh Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja unable to complement his heroics.
But Suryakumar appeared unstoppable. It did seem he would take India home single-handedly.
The dismissals of Karthik and Jadeja in successive overs made the equation stiffer for India as they needed 41 to win off the last 12 balls. Yet, India were very much in the game as Suryakumar smashed Moeen Ali for a couple of boundaries and a six in the penultimate over. But the lone occasion when Suryakumar mis-timed a shot, he perished in the deep as England finally heaved a sigh of relief.
Suryakumar’s abilities aside, yet another low score for Virat Kohli (11) is certainly a reason to worry for the Indian team management. On Sunday, Kohli began with back-to-back majestic strokes off David Willey (2/40). But being over-ambitious and trying to go for another big one in the very next delivery from the left-arm quick, Kohli holed out to short extra-cover.
The Trent Bridge wicket being a batsman’s paradise and the series already decided, he could well have been a little more patient.
On the other hand, quicks Reece Topley (3/22), Willey and Chris Jordan (2/37) showed their Indian counterparts, particularly Avesh Khan and Umran Malik (replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah), how to bowl on a belter.