India’s leg-spinner Amit Mishra reckons Suryakumar Yadav handled the pressure of captaincy really well in the first T20I against Australia at Vizag on Thursday, which India won by two wickets to take a 1-0 lead in five-match T20I series. SKY was leading India for the first time in his career and he was able to get the best out of his players.
SKY was astute in his bowling changes as well as field placements despite Josh Inglis firing at all cylinders for Australia to score a majestic knock of 110 runs off just 50 balls.
On the other hand, SKY was able to lead from the front as he scored a fantastic knock of 80 runs off just 42 balls with the help of nine fours and four sixes. Thus, he played an instrumental role in helping India chase down 209 runs and was awarded Player of the Match. This was SKY’s 13th Player of the Match award in T20I format, helping him go past Rohit Sharma’s tally.
“He played a captain’s knock in the 1st T20I. He played to his strengths and did not make any change to his approach. The pressure of captaincy was visible when India were bowling, but he was really calm when he came to bat. He should continue maintaining the same approach,” Mishra said.
SKY added 112 runs with Ishan Kishan, who also scored a vital knock of 58 runs to help India get close to the target. Rinku Singh added the finishing touches for the home team as the left-hander scored a little cameo of 14-ball 22.
Meanwhile, Australia posted 208 runs on the board after Steve Smith and Josh Inglis scored 52 and 110 runs respectively but their efforts went in vain.
The second T20I between India and Australia will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
