Sunil Gavaskar Declares Suryakumar Yadav Better Than Abhishek in 3rd T20I

India produced a dominant performance in the third T20I against New Zealand at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, cruising to an emphatic eight-wicket victory and sealing the five-match series 3-0 with two games to spare. Chasing a target of 154, the hosts reached the total in just 10 overs, registering the fastest successful chase of a 150-plus target by a full-member nation in T20I history.

After opting to bowl first, India were led by Jasprit Bumrah, who returned figures of 3 for 17 to restrict New Zealand to 153 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Bumrah’s disciplined spell set the tone, ensuring the Black Caps never gained momentum and leaving India with a manageable chase on a good batting surface.

What followed was an explosive display from Abhishek Sharma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who dismantled the New Zealand bowling attack with ease. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 102-run partnership off just 40 balls, effectively ending the contest within the powerplay overs. Abhishek finished on 68 not out from 20 balls, while Suryakumar remained unbeaten on 57 from 26 deliveries.

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The standout performances sparked debate over who played the better innings, a question put to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar after the match. Gavaskar praised both batters but ultimately gave a narrow edge to Suryakumar Yadav. He cited the Indian captain’s range of innovative strokeplay, including sweeps from outside off-stump and improvised flicks for six, calling it a “19-20 ka farak,” or marginal difference.

Gavaskar added that individual comparisons mattered little given India’s current form, emphasizing the team’s winning momentum and the entertainment on offer. The innings also marked a significant turnaround for Suryakumar, who has now scored back-to-back fifties after enduring a lean run through much of 2025. With the series already secured, India’s emphatic performance has further strengthened confidence ahead of upcoming challenges in the T20 format.

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