Team India survived a scare to defeat England by a mere 7 runs in the semi-final, securing their spot in the March 8 final versus New Zealand at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Captain Suryakumar Yadav shared a candid glimpse into his mindset during the tense encounter at Wankhede.
Batting first, India racked up 253 for 7, a total England nearly overhauled with 246 for 7. The match swung dramatically, testing every nerve.
‘I was pretty nervous out there,’ Suryakumar revealed. ‘If you’d checked my heart rate, you’d know exactly how much.’ He explained that title hunts at home amplify pressure, though excitement fuels the fire.
England’s aggressive pursuit kept the pressure on, but India’s bowlers scripted a heroic defense. ‘They challenged us right till the end with smart chasing,’ the captain said. ‘Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and the unit’s effort to swing momentum back was masterful.’
Fielding strategies also played a key part. ‘Shoutout to coach T Dilip—we nailed the Shivam Dubey vs. Adil Rashid matchup perfectly,’ Suryakumar said.
The final beckons with promise. ‘This feeling of reaching Ahmedabad for the decider is unreal and special.’ With the country united in anticipation, Suryakumar’s leadership sets the stage for potential glory.