IND vs AUS, 3rd T20I: Suryakumar Yadav hails ‘special’ Ruturaj Gaikwad despite century in losing cause

India captain Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on Ruturaj Gaikwad, calling him a special player following an unbeaten century against Australia at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

India vs Australia: 3rd T20I Scorecard

Gaikwad remained unbeaten on 123 runs off 57 deliveries, smashing 13 boundaries and seven sixes. However, his innings wasn’t enough to guide India to victory as Glenn Maxwell snatched the win from the hosts with a breath-taking century.

Speaking after the match, Suryakumar said his plan was to get Maxwell out, adding that Australia were always in the game with wickets in hand. Maxwell scored an unbeaten 104 off 48 deliveries to guide Australia to a 5-wicket win.

“Just to get Maxi (Maxwell) out quickly. I think that was the plan, but yeah, I mean, when you’re defending 200-210 with so much dew I think you got to give something to the bowlers. They lost wickets early on, so they couldn’t reach the end, but with the wickets in hand for them and then for 220, I think they were always in the game,” said Suryakumar.

He went on to call Gaikwad a special player, lauding for taking the innings deep. Gaikwad registered the second highest score by an Indian batter in T20Is.

“Fantastic. I mean, the way Ruturaj batted after I got out, he took the inning deep. I’ve always said during franchise cricket as well, that he is a special player. And the way he batted, he showed it, but yeah, at the end. Very proud of my boys,” Suryakumar added.

After being put in to bat first, India found themselves in trouble as both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan departed in quick succession. Suryakumar Yadav scored a 29-ball 39 before being dismissed by Aaron Hardie. Ruturaj Gaikwad registered the second hight T20I score for India, hitting an unbeaten 123 off just 52 balls, smashing 13 fours and seven sixes to guide India to a total of 222 for 3.

In the second innings, Travis Head got the Aussies off to a fast start. However, India pulled the game back with some quick wickets. Following the dismissal of Head, it was the Maxwell show as the veteran Australia batter single-handedly took the game away from India.

Australia ended up winning the match by 5 wickets to keep themselves alive in the five-match series. The fourth match will be played in Raipur on Friday, December 1.