Following a dramatic victory over Sri Lanka in the third 20 International at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday (July 30), India's new captain, Suryakumar Yadav, praised the team's character.

India already sealed the series and made 4 changes to the XI, at one point they were reduced to 30/4 but Shubman Gill and Riyan Parag helped get out of the trouble and post a respectable total. In reply, a collective bowling performance from the bowlers helped them defend the total and tie the game. In the super over, India were clinical to thrash Sri Lanka.

“More than the last over, I feel when we were around 30/4 and 48/5, how the boys showed character in the middle and took the game away from them ... I felt 140 was a par score on that track. When we were going in during fielding session I told them, 'I have seen such kind of games. If we put our heart in for one and a half hours, we can pull it off.' If you are enjoying hitting 200-220s and winning games, you should enjoy 30/4 and 70/5 as well because that creates balance in your life and that's how you move on and just be humble,” Suryakumar said in the post-match presentation.

The Indian captain expressed his gratitude for the team's talent level and said that it made his work easier. He also acknowledged the team's friendship.

“The amount of skill they have, self confidence what they bring into the table, it makes my job very easy. The positivity they have on the ground and in the dressing room, the care for each other what they show is unbelievable. After the last game, I said few boys are going to rest and they were the first ones to tell me, 'Okay we would rest and you can give opportunities to others.' That shows the character of the team and how happy they are for others' performance as well. They have made my job easy. When I go into bat, I have little pressure, I just enjoy to express myself. I said before the series, I don't want to be the captain, I want to be a leader,” he added.

India will play Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series starting on Friday (August 2), after winning the T20 series by 3-0.