India’s newly appointed captain, Suryakumar Yadav, celebrated his first win in his new role by reflecting on the dramatic T20 World Cup final. The match was a thrilling reminder that no game is ever truly over until the final ball. In the opening T20I of their series against Sri Lanka, India secured a solid 43-run victory, starting their tour with a strong performance despite a challenging fight from the Sri Lankan batsmen.
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka was particularly impressive, scoring a dazzling 79 from just 48 deliveries, including 4 sixes and 7 boundaries. His partnership with Kusal Mendis, which yielded 84 runs, and another significant stand with Kusal Perera, who contributed to a 56-run partnership, brought Sri Lanka to a strong position of 140 for 2 in the 15th over.
However, Suryakumar Yadav maintained his composure throughout, with Axar Patel delivering crucial breakthroughs by dismissing Nissanka and Perera in the same over. Reflecting on the game, Yadav acknowledged the high level of Sri Lankan cricket and emphasized the lesson learned from their World Cup victory—that no game is lost until the very end.
Sri Lanka’s innings faltered as they slipped from 140 for 1 to 161 for 6, thanks to a disciplined spin attack. Riyan Parag contributed significantly with 3 wickets, while Ravi Bishnoi added another. Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj each took a wicket, ultimately dismissing Sri Lanka for 170 in 19.2 overs.
Earlier, Yadav’s explosive 50 in just 22 balls, his second-fastest in T20I history, was a highlight. His innings followed a rapid start by Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal’s 40 from 21 balls and Gill’s 34 off 16 helped India post 74 runs in the powerplay, their highest in 2024.
Gill praised his opening partnership with Jaiswal, noting their different styles complement each other effectively. “It’s great batting with Jaiswal. We have different approaches, but our plan is straightforward—assess the conditions and take on the bowlers,” Gill said.
Published By: Cricket Khabhar
Published On: Jul 27, 2024