NEW DELHI: Star batsman Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the encouraging words after India's ICC ODI World Cup 2023 final loss. Suryakumar, who is also known as Mr 360, asserted that the team remains committed to maintaining that same spirit as they now gear up for the upcoming T20 World Cup next year.
India's dream of winning the ODI World Cup after 12 years came crashing down after they suffered a six-wicket defeat against Australia in the final in Ahmedabad.
In a heartwarming gesture, PM Modi visited the team's dressing room, met and consoled the players.
"Just after the World Cup final we were sitting in the dressing room and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi came in and gave us motivation," said Surya, who is currently leading the Indian team in the five-match T20 series against Australia.
"He met everyone and told us to move on, as it happens in sport and we will have to take it in our stride.
"It will take some time for us to get over it but his motivational words for those 5-6 minutes and meeting us is a big thing as he is the country's leader. We listened to him carefully, spent time with him and will try to follow his suggestions."
1/10:1st T20I: Suryakumar Yadav leads India stat attack against Australia
AFP
2/10:India beat Australia
<p>India's two-wicket win is their second successful 200-plus run chase against Australia in T20Is after the six-wicket win at Rajkot in 2013. </p>Getty Images
3/10:Team India
<p>India is the only team to complete five successful run-chases of 200 or more in T20Is. </p>Getty Images
4/10:India's highest successful run chase
<p>The 209-run chase win in Visakhapatnam is India's highest successful run chase in T20Is. </p>PTI
5/10:India's highest total against Australia
<p>209/8 is India's highest total against Australia in T20Is, eclipsing the 208/6 at Mohali on September 20, 2022. </p>Getty Images
6/10:Suryakumar Yadav
<p>Suryakumar Yadav (42-ball-80) slammed the highest individual score on captaincy debut for India in T20Is. </p>AFP
7/10:SKY is the limit
<p>Suryakumar Yadav eclipsed the 62 by KL Rahul vs Afghanistan at Dubai on September 8, 2022. </p>AFP
8/10:Man of the Match
<p>Suryakumar Yadav was named the Player-of-the-Match for the 13th time in T20Is, his second award against Australia. </p>AFP
9/10:Ishan Kishan
<p>Ishan Kishan joined MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant to hit two 50-plus scores by designated wicketkeepers for India in T20Is. KL Rahul heads the list with 3. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Josh Inglis
<p>With his maiden T20I ton, Josh Inglis equalled the Australian record of Aaron Finch to hit a T20I hundred off 47 balls. </p>Getty ImagesThe T20 World Cup will be hosted by the West Indies and the United States from June 4 to June 30 next year.
"We will try to do well in the upcoming tournaments and there is an ICC event coming up next year and we will play with the same spirit as this time and hopefully we will win," said Surya.
The 33-year-old from Mumbai also thanked the fans for their support throughout the tournament.
1/10:1st T20I: Surya, Rinku help India chase down 209 against Australia
Getty Images
2/10:India's record chase
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav's 42-ball 80 and an unbeaten cameo by Rinku Singh helped the hosts chase down an Indian best of 209 against Australia.AFP
3/10:Rinku Singh's heroics
Rinku, a left-hand batsman who hit 22 off 14 balls, smashed a six that was not counted as the run off the no-ball got India past their previous best chase of 208 against the West Indies in 2019.AFP
4/10:'Chase master' Rinku Singh
Needing seven off the last over, India lost three succesive wickets including two run outs on ball four and five before chase-master Rinku got the team to victory after Sean Abbott bowled a no-ball.PTI
5/10:Suryakumar's captaincy debut
"Very happy with the way the boys displayed the talent on the field. We were put under pressure, but the way everyone came back into the game, was great," Suryakumar said of the win.ANI
6/10:Key partnership
Suryakumar's 112-run third-wicket stand with Ishan Kishan, who smashed a 39-ball 58, proved key after the hosts lost their openers on 22.PTI
7/10:Inglis' explosive century
Josh Inglis smashed 110 off 50 balls -- his maiden international ton -- to guide Australia to 208-3 after being invited to bat first on a batting-friendly pitch.PTI
8/10:Australia's blistering partnership
Australia lost an early wicket before Inglis, who smashed 110 off 50 balls, joined Steve Smith, who made 52 before being run out, to hammer 130 runs off 67 balls in a blistering partnership.PTI
9/10:Australia's T20 World Cup preparation
Australia rested many of their ODI stars -- including Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa -- as they plan for the T20 World Cup in June.PTI
10/10:Next match in Thiruvananthapuram
The second T20I match between India and Australia will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.PTI"It has been just 4-5 days since the World Cup got over and all are disappointed, we are also disappointed. But it was great to see the support of our fans in India and all over the world.
"At the end of the day, it is a sport and it teaches us a lot of things. I want to say that keep supporting us."
(With inputs from PTI)
