Suryakumar Yadav hails Jasprit Bumrah as a "national treasure" after T20 WC win

He praised India's star batters Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy for stepping up.

A dominant batting show by the top-order of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan, and later fiery spells by Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel, helped Team India make history, beating New Zealand by 96 runs at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

India became the first team to win the T20 WC title at home, the first team to win it back-to-back, and the first team to win the three T20 WC crowns.

"I think it'll take a little bit of time (to sink in), but I'm definitely very happy with what has happened today. It has been a long journey. Started post-2024 World Cup when BCCI at that time, Jay (Shah) bhai, at that time Secretary Rohit (Sharma) Bhai, and everyone, they showed faith in me, gave me an opportunity to lead this wonderful side, and then it was a long, long, long cycle coming here again at the Narendra Modi Stadium and doing it. I think it's a special feeling. I think we knew that we were playing some good cricket throughout the two years, and it was going really well," Suryakumar Yadav said after the match.

"We just wanted to follow all the good habits that we established during the 2024 T20 World Cup. I think it's really important to understand what they (Sanju, Abhishek, and Varun) are capable of. And I knew they had the match winners in them. I think the timing was perfect for Sanju to come in. Varun Chakravarthy and Abhishek Sharma, world's number one players. We always knew that they had something special. No bigger stage than a final to do something. And also, especially how Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel have been in the circuit for a really long time, taking care of each other with all the support staff. I think it was very, very special. That's what I said, like how Sanju said in the last game, he wanted to give his Man of the Match to Jasprit Bumrah. He is a once-in-a-generation bowler. I can call him a national treasure right now. But he knows what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, the best in the business, and hopefully keeps doing that," he added.

Coming to the match, NZ put India to bat first after winning the toss, Samson (89 in 46 balls, with five fours and eight sixes), Abhishek Sharma (52 in 21 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and Ishan Kishan (54 in 25 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and Shivam Dube (26* in 8 balls, with three fours and two sixes) took India to 255/5.

Later on, despite a fifty from Tim Seifert (52 in 26 balls, with two fours and five sixes), the Kiwis had to bow down to the sheer greatness of Axar (3/27) and Bumrah (4/15) as Men in Blue secure their third T20WC title in style, becoming the first team to defend the title, and also the first host nation to win the trophy.

- ANI