India Clinches 43-Run Victory Over Sri Lanka in T20 Series Opener

by Nicholas Edwards · 27/07/2024

New head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav celebrated a triumphant start as India secured a 43-run win over hosts Sri Lanka, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match Twenty20 series on Saturday.

With batting icons Virat Kohli, Test and ODI skipper Rohit Sharma, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20 internationals following India’s T20 World Cup victory last month, Yashasvi Jaiswal and new T20 vice-captain Shubman Gill opened the innings for the visitors in Pallekele.

Opting to bat after Sri Lanka won the toss, India began strongly in the powerplay with a 74-run opening partnership between Jaiswal (40) and Gill (34). However, both were dismissed in quick succession as Dilshan Madushanka and Wanindu Hasaranga struck back-to-back.

Suryakumar Yadav (58), recently appointed as India’s T20 captain, led from the front, scoring his 20th T20 fifty off just 22 balls before being trapped lbw by Matheesha Pathirana. Pathirana continued to impress, dismissing Hardik Pandya (9) and Riyan Parag (7) with a searing yorker and lbw, respectively.

Pathirana’s stellar performance saw him claim Rishabh Pant’s wicket just shy of his half-century, restricting India to a total of 213-7.

Surya Kumar Yadav, India Clinches 43-Run Victory Over Sri Lanka in T20 Series Opener

Sri Lanka’s chase started brightly with an 84-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka (79) and Kusal Mendis (45). Arshdeep Singh provided a breakthrough by dismissing Kusal, but Nissanka and Kusal Perera (20) maintained the pressure on India’s bowlers until Axar Patel, replacing Jadeja, took consecutive wickets to dismiss both.

Sri Lanka’s pursuit lost momentum as Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, and Wanindu Hasaranga fell cheaply, culminating in Sri Lanka being bowled out for 170 in 19.2 overs.

Reflecting on his performance, Shubman Gill highlighted the effective partnership with Jaiswal. “It’s great batting with him. I think we complement each other quite well,” Gill remarked. “We play a little differently, our style is a bit different. I think that’s why it works for us. Our communication is simple, assess the conditions as quick as possible, and then take on the bowlers.”

Both teams will clash again in the second T20 on Sunday.

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