Suryakumar Yadav’s blitzkrieg blows away West Indies as India claw their way back into the T20I series

India finally returned to their element in the third game of the T20I series as Suryakumar Yadav motored alongside Tilak Varma to help India chase down a 160-run target without breaking a sweat.

Before the two teams head to the USA, it was a do-or-die match for the Men in Blue as they were trailing by 2-0 while West Indies stood on the cusp of history, a chance that they would have again on Saturday.

Winning the toss, West Indies opted to bat first and were off to a fiery start, courtesy of a heavily-firing Brandon King. Kyle Mayers did a decent job of giving him company as he played the role of an aggressor in the partnership, helping the hosts to amass 55 runs for the opening stand.

It was Axar Patel who drew first blood for India as Mayers miscued his pull to hole out to Arshdeep Singh for a well-scored 25. Johnson Charles did try and put up a decent show only to be foxed by Kuldeep Yadav as the Islanders lost their second wicket.

Nicholas Pooran seemed to be in dangerous touch as he kept on dispatching the Indian bowlers out of the park without hesitation, only to fall against Kuldeep as Sanju Samson affected a decent stumping to send Pooram packing for a quickfire 20. Kuldeep clinched King's wicket in the same over as he plucked an absolute ripper of his own bowling, showcasing his razor-sharp reflexes.

It was the Caribbean skipper Rovman Powell who arrived at the crease and smashed a 19-ball 40 that propelled the hosts to 159/5. Kuldeep was the pick of the Indian bowling lot with figures of 3/28 while Axar and Mukesh Kumar too put up impressive performances. 

Coming out to chase, India once again had an early scare as debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal couldn’t really impress. Trying to go for a big shot against Obed McCoy, he skied the ball that landed safely into the hands of Alzarri Joseph. However, putting his past ghosts to bed, Suryakumar Yadav was off to a rollicking start that saw India changing gears in the powerplay for the first time in the series.

Shubman Gill’s uncomfortable stay was also cut short as Joseph’s bowling got the better of the Indian opener. An incoming Tilak Varma started off with a couple of consecutive boundaries while Suryakumar continued to press on the gas.

Varma settled at the crease comfortably, taking the premium seat to watch SKY’s onslaught at the other end. Surya seemed to be in effusive touch, playing his shots effortlessly. His crucial partnership of 87 runs with Tilak Varma saw India piling up 121, before Joseph struck for a second time as Surya flicked a full toss powerfully but straight to Brandon King at deep fine leg.

Surya’s glistening 44-ball-83 allowed India to establish a strong foothold on the game while Varma exhibited exemplary maturity to get India closer to the finish line. Hardik Pandya’s arrival in the center ironed out the remaining kinks and it was the Indian captain who launched a ball from his Caribbean counterpart out of the park to secure a victory for the Men in Blue. Varma stayed unbeaten for 49 from 37 balls while Pandya’s 15-ball 20 was enough to allow India to fend off the Caribbean challenge.