Hardik heaps praise on Suryakumar and Rahul Tripathi after India's thumping win

Hardik Pandya with the trophy [Source: AP]

On Saturday, Team India registered a whopping 91-run win over Sri Lanka in the final T20I of the three-match series. Riding on Suryakumar Yadav's breathtaking hundred, the hosts posted a massive total of 228 and defended it later to seal the series by 2-1. 

In the aftermath of India's clinical victory, skipper Hardik Pandya explained how the presence of extraordinary hitters like Suryakumar makes his job easier as a captain. 

Pandya, who claimed two crucial wickets in the game, also lavished praise on Rahul Tripathi, who ensured a brisk start for India despite the fall of an early wicket. 

Here's what Pandya stated

"It’s definitely very easy because today it felt like it was ‘Sri Lanka vs Surya’. That makes my life very easy as a captain and that’s the reason I’ve always mentioned that someone like him is so important in white-ball cricket. The way he plays the game, the way he plays some of his shots, breaks the morale of the bowler and helps the other batter as well,

"We all saw what Surya did but special mention to Rahul Tripathi for the kind of intent he showed. That is something natural to him which can change the momentum. If you see the first couple of overs, the ball was doing something and other batters in the dugout thought that there is something in the wicket. But because of his intent, the ball stopped moving all of a sudden, they changed their length and it was all about the way they were chasing the game."

Next up, both teams will clash in a three-match ODI series starting January 10. 

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