While India winning a home T20I series is a norm rather than the exception, the series victory against West Indies came with a lot of positives ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup. One of the biggest was how the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer established themselves as finishers. 

In the third and final T20I of the series at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, the duo put up a 91-run partnership in only six overs to ensure India finish with a massive total of 184 while batting first. They rescued the Men in Blue from a tricky situation of 91-4 after skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed. 

Talking about his knock, Venkatesh revealed Suryakumar played a big role in motivating him and giving him confidence after he walked out to the middle. The star Kolkata Knight Riders player described Suryakumar as someone who everyone ‘likes’ in the dressing room. 

“That’s what you need, guys bouncing off each other. When I went out there, even Surya was relatively new to the crease. I still remember the first words he told me – ‘Aaj ek aur opportunity hai’,” Venkatesh said to Star Sports. 

“So I think, when a senior player tells you that, it gives you a lot of confidence, you see pressure as a privilege. He is one of those guys who everyone likes in the dressing room, he has got great chemistry. It was wonderful batting with him, I was really enjoying his batting from the non-striker’s end,” he added.

As part of their efforts, Suryakumar ended up scoring 65 runs in 31 balls in a knock that included one boundary and seven sixes. Meanwhile, Venkatesh scored a quick-fire 19-ball 35* with four boundaries and two sixes to his name. The duo had also helped India complete their run chase in the first game with a 48-run partnership.