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During the third T20I between India and Bangladesh, skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s heartfelt gesture went viral on social media. Suryakumar Yadav, who succeeded Rohit Sharma as Team India’s T20I skipper after the latter announced retirement from the shortest format of the game, was seen congratulating veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah, who played his final T20I match on Saturday, October 12.
The 38-year-old, who played his last knock in T20Is at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad against India, only scored eight runs off nine balls, which included one four. Although he got out while unsuccessfully trying to hit Mayank Yadav down the ground, with Riyan Parag completing a clean catch near the boundary ropes. As he walked out of the field for the last time in T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav went up to the Bangladesh veteran to congratulate him on his T20I career.
Watch Suryakumar Yadav congratulate Mahmudullah Riyad:
It is to be noted that Mahmudullah was the last of the Big 5, also including Tamim Iqbal, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim to retire from T20Is. He finished his career as the second highest run-getter for the Tigers in men’s T20Is having amassed 2444 runs in 141 matches at an average of 23.40. In the recently concluded T20I series, Mahmudullah scored 50 runs from the three games at an average of 16.67.
The veteran all-rounder had announced his decision to retire from T20Is just ahead of the second match of the series. His decision comes in order to shift his focus entirely on ODI cricket after he already retired from Tests in July 2021. Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Mahmudullah clarified that the decision was “pre-decided”.
"Yes, I am retiring from T20I format after this series. It was pre-decided. I had discussed it with the board and my family. It's the right time for me to move on, and I am going to focus on the ODI matches coming up, and it was the right time for the transition," Mahmudullah said in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
