Watch: In a heartwarming incident in the final moments of the Bengaluru pink-ball Test, Jasprit Bumrah rushed to congratulate Sri Lanka’s retiring great Suranga Lakmal after cleaning him up with a yorker in his final Test innings.
Lakmal walked out with Sri Lanka eight down on 206 and still needing 239 runs to win, having lost centurion Dimuth Karunarante in the previous over. The Sri Lanka No.10 survived the first three balls but went for a wild slog off the fourth delivery. Jasprit Bumrah’s accurate yorker hurtled past his bat and rattled his leg stump.
The Sri Lanka seamer, playing his 70th and final Test, had begun his walk back when Bumrah rushed from behind to grab him, extending a handshake to congratulate him on his retirement. The rest of his teammates followed suit, led by skipper Rohit Sharma, and ended with a tight hug from Mohammed Shami before Lakmal trudged back.
Lakmal acknowledged the standing ovation from the crowd on his way, raising his bat and looking up to the skies as he completed his final few steps as an active Test cricketer.
He retires as Sri Lanka’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in the format, and the second-most prolific seamer from the country after Chaminda Vaas. In 70 Tests, he picked up 171 wickets at 36.44, with four five-wicket hauls to his name.
Watch the wicket here, followed by Bumrah’s gesture:
Spirit of Cricket at its best as #TeamIndia congratulate Suranga Lakmal who played his last international match 🤜🤛 #SpiritOfCricket | #INDvSL | @Paytm pic.twitter.com/aa17CK5hqv
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 14, 2022
