Suryakumar Yadav’s last-over blunder that forced 3rd T20I into Super Over, leaves India captain shocked at his own act

India vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I: The Super Over could have been avoided had it not been for a blunder from Suryakumar Yadav on the penultimate delivery

The new era under Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir got underway with a 3-0 T20I series win on Tuesday at the Pallekele International Stadium after India survived a Super Over thriller in the third and final match of the contest. Like in the opening two matches, Sri Lanka made a mess in the death overs, despite a 12-ball 18th over from Khaleel Ahmed. The batters struggled to score just nine runs in the last two overs, where part-timers Rinku Singh and Suryakumar bowled, before a brilliant over from Washington Sundar in the tie-breaker ensured a clean sweep for India over Sri Lanka.

Suryakumar Yadav bowled the final over for India in the 3rd T20I against Sri Lanka

However, the Super Over could have been avoided had it not been for a blunder from Suryakumar. Defending just six runs in the final over, the captain picked two wickets in consecutive balls in the opening three deliveries, before Asitha Fernando denied him a perfect hat-trick on the fourth ball.

With five left to chase in the final two deliveries, Sri Lanka batter Chamindu Wickramasinghe slapped the outside-off delivery off his backfoot towards long-off and pushed hard for two runs. Riyan Parag easily collected the ball and hurled it back to the captain at the non-striker's end. Suryakumar grabbed it, but instead of dislodging the bails with Fernando well far away from the crease, he threw it back to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson.

In the tie-breaker, Sundar picked up two wickets in just three balls, setting India a target of just three runs, before Suryakumar wrapped up the match in the opening delivery against Theekshana as he smashed a boundary towards fine leg.