Indian Team with the Series win against Sri Lanka
The match turned out to be a thrilling contest, ending in a tie and forcing a Super Over. What followed was an intense and exciting Super Over, where India held their nerves to clinch the win and complete a 3-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka. It was a fitting end to the series, with fans treated to some high-quality cricket and a dramatic finish. Here’s a look at how the final match unfolded.
The match where India pulled off a heart-stopping 3-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka in the third T20I at Pallekele on July 30, 2024, was one for the ages. It had everything like early collapses, gritty recoveries, a jaw-dropping choke, and a Super Over that left fans gasping. India, led by a fearless Suryakumar Yadav, leaned on Washington Sundar’s all-round magic and Rinku Singh’s surprise bowling to snatch victory from a tied game.
On that electric evening, Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka had won the toss and chosen to bowl first, banking on the Pallekele pitch to favour his bowlers early. India, under their new skipper Suryakumar Yadav, had walked out with confidence but hit trouble almost immediately. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young opener known for his fearless strokeplay, had started with two crisp fours, scoring 10 off 9 balls. But Maheesh Theekshana, Sri Lanka’s spin maestro, had trapped him lbw in the second over.
Jaiswal had reviewed, hoping to overturn the call, but the umpire’s decision stood, leaving India at 11/1. Things had worsened quickly as Sanju Samson sent up the order to spark a response, lasted just four balls before nicking Chamindu Wickramasinghe to Wanindu Hasaranga for a duck. Theekshana struck again in the third over, getting Rinku Singh caught by Matheesha Pathirana for a mere 1. By the end of the third over, India had been reeling at 14/3, and the Pallekele crowd was buzzing with excitement. The powerplay had been a disaster for India, yielding just 30 runs while losing four wickets.
Suryakumar, coming in at No. 5, had tried to steady the innings but managed only 8 off 9 balls, including a single four, before falling to Asitha Fernando’s bowling. At 30/4 after 5.4 overs, India had been in deep trouble. Shubman Gill, the composed vice-captain, had become the anchor, playing a patient 39 off 37 balls with three fours. He had fought to keep India afloat, but partners kept disappearing. Shivam Dube had chipped in with 13 off 14 balls, showing brief intent before edging Ramesh Mendis to the keeper Kusal Mendis, leaving India at 48/5 in the ninth over.
The middle overs had been a grind, but hope had flickered when Riyan Parag joined Gill. Parag, full of fire, had smashed 26 off 18 balls, including a four and two sixes, giving the dugout something to cheer about. Their 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket, scored off 35 balls, had pushed India past 100 in the 15th over, raising hopes of a defendable total. Just when it had seemed India might build a score, Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s star, had turned the game. He had stumped Gill for 39 and had Parag caught for 26 in quick succession, leaving India at 105/7. Washington Sundar had then played a blinder, smashing 25 off 18 balls with two fours and a six.
His late heroics, alongside Ravi Bishnoi’s unbeaten 8 off 8 balls with a four, had given India a fighting chance. The final over had been chaotic as Sundar had fallen to Theekshana, and Mohammed Siraj had been run out for a duck on the last ball. India had finished at 137/9, with 7 extras (5 wides, 2 leg byes) boosting their total. Theekshana’s 3/28 had been the standout, backed by Hasaranga’s 2/29 and single wickets from Wickramasinghe, Fernando, and Ramesh Mendis. Despite the early collapse, India’s recovery has shown its depth. Gill’s steadiness, Parag’s spark, and Sundar’s cameo ensured a total that had felt just competitive enough on a pitch where spinners, with 13 dot balls and tight spells like Wickramasinghe’s 4-0-17-1, had ruled.
When Sri Lanka had chased 138, with the series already gone but pride at stake, their innings had been a mirror of India’s, full of promise, then heartbreak. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis had started confidently, handling India’s pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Mohammed Siraj with ease. The powerplay had yielded 35 runs without loss, with Nissanka’s 26 off 27 balls, including five fours, setting the tone. Mendis, playing the anchor, had scored 43 off 41 balls with three fours, guiding Sri Lanka to 50 in 7.2 overs.
Their 58-run opening stand had looked solid until Nissanka had fallen in the ninth over, caught at deep midwicket off Ravi Bishnoi’s bowling. Kusal Perera had joined Mendis, and their aggressive 52-run second-wicket stand had taken Sri Lanka to 110/1 by the 15th over, needing just 28 runs off 30 balls. It felt like their game to win. Then had come the collapse that defined Sri Lanka’s night. Mendis, the backbone, had been pinned lbw by Bishnoi in the 16th over for 43. He had reviewed, but the call stood, and the floodgates had opened.
Wanindu Hasaranga, sent in to keep the momentum, had managed just 3 off 4 balls before holing out to Washington Sundar. Charith Asalanka, the captain, had nicked Sundar to keeper Sanju Samson for a golden duck, leaving Sri Lanka at 117/4. Perera, who had top-scored with 46 off 34 balls, including five fours, had kept hopes alive with his attacking strokes but had fallen in the 19th over, caught and bowled by Rinku Singh, who had been a surprise with the ball. Rinku struck again, getting Ramesh Mendis caught by Shubman Gill for 3.
With 6 runs needed off the final over, Suryakumar Yadav, in a stunning captaincy move, had taken the ball himself. His loopy spin had worked wonders, dismissing Kamindu Mendis (1 off 3) and Maheesh Theekshana (0 off 1), both caught by Samson. Sri Lanka had been 132/8, and only a desperate scramble by Chamindu Wickramasinghe (4 not out) and Asitha Fernando (1 not out), helped by 10 extras including 8 wides, had tied the scores. A slow over-rate penalty had forced India to keep an extra fielder inside the circle, adding to the tension.
India’s bowlers had been the real stars. Washington Sundar’s 2/23 and Ravi Bishnoi’s 2/38 had kept Sri Lanka in check, while Rinku’s 1-over spell of 2/3 had been a game-changer. Suryakumar’s 2/5 in the final over had been pure genius, showing his leadership flair. Mohammed Siraj’s 0/11 had been tight, though Khaleel Ahmed’s 0/28 had leaked runs. Sri Lanka’s collapse with seven wickets for 22 runs in the last five overs had echoed their series-long struggles, as match reports had noted. They had the game in their grasp but had crumbled under pressure, setting up a Super Over that had been pure drama.
The match where the Super Over had decided the outcome was pure theatre. Sri Lanka had batted first, with Washington Sundar bowling for India. Kusal Mendis had faced a wide first ball, sliding down the off side for an extra run. He had then swept a flat, quick delivery to deep square leg for a single. Kusal Perera, aiming to go big, had faced a short, slow ball from Sundar and dragged a pull to Ravi Bishnoi at deep square leg, gone for a duck. Pathum Nissanka had walked in but couldn’t get under a fuller slider, hitting it flat to Rinku Singh at deep midwicket for another duck.
Sri Lanka had limped to 2/2 in 0.4 overs, leaving India needing just 3 runs to win. India had sent out Suryakumar Yadav, who had already stunned everyone with his bowling, and Shubman Gill to face Maheesh Theekshana. It was over in a flash. Theekshana had tried a carrom ball, but it had strayed onto Suryakumar’s pads. He had dropped to one knee and swept it hard to short fine leg, where Asitha Fernando had fumbled, letting the ball race to the boundary for four.
India had finished at 4/0 in 0.1 overs, clinching the match and the 3-0 series sweep. Washington Sundar’s clutch bowling had earned him Player of the Match, while Suryakumar’s all-round brilliance, batting, bowling, and leading had bagged him Player of the Series. The Super Over had been a perfect snapshot of India’s nerve and Sri Lanka’s struggles, with Sundar’s precision and Suryakumar’s fearless sweep sealing a victory that had fans roaring long after the final ball.