India’s T20I clash against South Africa in Dharamsala delivered not just a dominant seven-wicket victory but also a moment of unexpected drama that caught fans’ attention. The spotlight fell on captain Suryakumar Yadav, who unusually delayed signalling for a DRS review, creating suspense before the decision was finally taken.
The incident occurred early in South Africa’s innings when opener Reeza Hendricks was struck on the front pad. While India’s players were confident it was out, the customary instant review signal never came. Instead, Suryakumar paused, letting the moment stretch out, much to the amusement of viewers and commentators.
Post-match, Arshdeep Singh shed light on the situation, revealing that the delay was intentional. According to the left-arm pacer, there was no confusion among the players about the decision. He was convinced from the impact itself that Hendricks was out, and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma had already backed the call. The pause, Arshdeep explained, was simply the captain adding a bit of theatre to the moment, deliberately building suspense before finally opting for the review.
The decision proved correct, as the DRS overturned the on-field call, and Hendricks had to depart. The light-hearted episode came on a night where Arshdeep also delivered a strong performance, bouncing back from a tough previous outing. Using the conditions in Dharamsala effectively, India bowled South Africa out for a modest total and comfortably chased it down, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.