On This Day — Suryakumar Yadav’s Blazing 83 Powers India to Win Over West Indies

This magic was on display on 8th August 2023, when India faced the West Indies in the third T20 of the series. Suryakumar took control from the very beginning, dismantling the opposition’s bowling attack with ease. His performance turned the match completely in India’s favour, ensuring a memorable victory. Let’s dive deeper into how the game unfolded.

India vs West Indies: 3rd T20I

For the West Indies, the third T20I against India at Providence Stadium in Guyana on August 8, 2023, was their chance to clinch the series. Leading 2-0 in the five-match contest, they won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping to pile on the runs and put India under pressure. The pitch looked like a good one for batting, but India’s bowlers weren’t going to make it easy. By the end of their 20 overs, West Indies had posted 159/5, thanks to a solid start from their openers and a late burst from their captain, but they might’ve felt they left a few runs out there.

Brandon King and Kyle Mayers kicked things off for the West Indies, walking out to a buzzing crowd. India’s bowlers, led by Hardik Pandya, started with discipline, keeping the runs tight in the powerplay. Only 38 runs came in the first six overs, but crucially, no wickets fell. King played it safe, nudging singles and picking the odd boundary, while Mayers went harder, smashing three fours and a six in his quickfire 25 off 20 balls. The pair looked comfortable, bringing up 50 runs in just 6.6 overs. Things were going well until Axar Patel struck in the eighth over. Mayers tried to loft one over mid-off but got it wrong, and Arshdeep Singh took a simple catch. West Indies were 55/1, and India had their breakthrough.

Johnson Charles came in next, looking to keep the momentum going. He and King added 20 runs, with Charles hitting a four and a six to show his intent. But Kuldeep Yadav, India’s wrist-spinner, had other ideas. In the 11th over, he trapped Charles in front for 12 off 14 balls. India reviewed the not-out call, and the replay showed it was plumb. At 75/2, Nicholas Pooran, the crowd’s favourite, strode out.

Pooran didn’t hold back, cracking two fours and a six in his 20 off 12 balls. He was looking dangerous until Kuldeep struck again in the 14th over, luring him out of his crease for Sanju Samson to whip off the bails. A ball later, Kuldeep got King, who made a steady 42 off 42, caught and bowled after a tame shot. Suddenly, West Indies were 106/4 after 15 overs, and India were in control.

Rovman Powell, the captain, and Shimron Hetmyer had to rebuild. Hetmyer struggled to get going, scoring 9 off 8 balls before Mukesh Kumar had him caught by Tilak Varma in the 17th over. At 123/5, West Indies were in danger of limping to a low total. But Powell wasn’t having it. He switched gears, hammering three sixes and a four in his unbeaten 40 off 19 balls. His late charge gave the innings some respectability. Romario Shepherd, at the other end, managed just 2 off 5 but stuck around to let Powell swing. The pair pushed West Indies to 150 by the 19th over, finishing at 159/5. Extras, including five wides and a few byes, added 9 runs to the total.

India’s bowlers were impressive. Kuldeep was the star, grabbing 3 wickets for 28 runs with his clever spin. Axar and Mukesh took one wicket each, while Hardik was super economical, giving away just 18 runs in three overs. Arshdeep was a bit expensive, leaking 33, and Yuzvendra Chahal bowled well without reward. West Indies’ total was competitive, but on a pitch like this, they probably needed closer to 170 to feel safe. Powell’s fireworks gave them hope, but it was up to their bowlers to defend it.

For India, chasing 160 was a do-or-die situation. Losing would mean a 3-0 deficit, so they needed their batters to step up. Things started badly, though. Yashasvi Jaiswal, on his T20I debut, was out for 1 in the first over, caught off Obed McCoy’s bowling. Shubman Gill didn’t last long either, nicking one from Alzarri Joseph to Johnson Charles for 6 off 11 balls. At 34/2 after five overs, India were wobbling, and West Indies could smell blood.

Enter Suryakumar Yadav. He walked in with a point to prove and completely changed the game. Starting cautiously, he soon found his groove, picking gaps and hitting boundaries with ease. Tilak Varma, the young left-hander, joined him and played with real maturity, rotating the strike and chipping in with boundaries. The pair took India to 60/2 in the powerplay, with Suryakumar leading the charge. He reached his fifty in just 23 balls, smashing seven fours and two sixes, looking like he was batting on a different pitch.

Tilak played the perfect foil, keeping things steady while Suryakumar went big. Their third-wicket stand added 87 runs in under eight overs, and by the 10-over mark, India were 97/2, with Suryakumar on 64 and Tilak on 23. The chase was firmly in their hands. Suryakumar kept going, finishing with a stunning 83 off 44 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes. He finally fell in the 13th over, caught by Brandon King off Joseph, but not before he broke the back of the chase.

With 39 runs needed off 44 balls, Tilak took over, staying not out on 49 off 37 balls with four fours and a six. He showed real composure for someone so early in his career. Hardik Pandya, the captain, came in and played a smart, unbeaten 20 off 15 balls, hitting a four and a six to finish things off. India crossed the line at 164/3 in 17.5 overs, winning by seven wickets with 13 balls to spare. It was a clinical chase, and Suryakumar’s knock earned him the Player of the Match award.

West Indies’ bowlers couldn’t find a way to stop India. McCoy was hammered, giving away 32 runs in two overs, while Joseph took two wickets but leaked runs. Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase bowled decently but didn’t take wickets. Romario Shepherd had a tough day, conceding 36 in three overs. The fielders tried hard, but India’s batters were just too good. Suryakumar’s aggression and Tilak’s calmness made the chase look easy.

This win kept India alive in the series at 2-1, giving them a real shot at a comeback. Suryakumar’s explosive batting was the difference, while Tilak’s composed knock showed his potential. For the West Indies, Powell’s late blitz was a highlight, but their middle order didn’t fire, and their bowlers couldn’t back it up. Kuldeep’s spin set the tone for India, and their batters sealed the deal. It was a big boost for India as they looked to level the series in the next game.