India’s new T20I captain, Suryak Yadav, dazzled with a stellar fifty the team triumphed over Sri Lanka by 43 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series hosted at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Suryakumar scored an impressive 58 off 26 balls, guiding India to a total of 213 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Rishabh Pant contributed significantly with a well-crafted 49 from 33 balls. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 off 21) and Shubman Gill (34 off 16) set a strong foundation, which Suryakumar and Pant effectively built upon after India opted to bat first. Despite a fighting effort from Sri Lanka, led by Pathum Nissanka (79 off 48) and Kusal Mendis (45 off 27), the hosts fell short, losing by 43 runs. With this victory, India secures a 1-0 lead in the series.
TOSS
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first.
TEAMS LINE UP
India:
Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rishabh Pant (w), Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka:
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (w), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
INDIA
Power Play: A robust start for India
Phase score: 74/1 [13x4s, 3x6s]
India began this new T20 cycle with an opener who observed the World Cup from the bench and another who was not part of the squad. Nevertheless, the depth of Indian cricket was on full display as Jaiswal and Gill effortlessly accumulated 74 runs in the first six overs, marking India’s highest PowerPlay score of the year and a record against Sri Lanka. From the very first ball, sent to the boundary by Jaiswal with a pick-up pull shot, things looked promising for India. The left-hander showed proficiency against both pace and spin, comfortably playing Maheesh Theekshana’s offbreaks. Gill matched Jaiswal’s performance, including a front-foot pull for six, before being dismissed by a slower ball. Yet, the groundwork was effectively laid.
Middle overs: The Surya Kumar spectacle
Phase score: 85/1 [9x4s, 2x6s]
Surya Kumar’s innings in his debut as full-time T20I captain was always going to be crucial, and the 33-year-old did not disappoint. He played in his characteristic style, sweeping, shuffling, and targeting the area behind square on the leg side, reaching his 22-ball fifty—his second fastest in the format. Surya kumar hit 8 fours and 2 sixes, with one notable six against the formidable Pathirana. Although Pathirana got his revenge with a fast, full delivery that trapped Surya kumar LBW, the captain’s aggressive 58 off 26 balls ensured India’s momentum didn’t stall after Jaiswal was dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga’s well-executed googly right at the start of the middle overs. Hasaranga emerged as the standout bowler, conceding only 28 runs in his four-over spell during a high-scoring innings.
Death overs: India cross 200 despite Pathirana’s yorker
Phase score: 544 [7x4s, 2x6s]
In the final phase, India looked to Rishabh Pant to accelerate, but he struggled initially with his cautious 20 runs off as many balls. Pant unleashed a 6 and a 4 against Asitha Fernando and seemed to find his rhythm, but Pathirana’s exceptional yorkers at the opposite end curtailed him and India’s scoring in the closing overs. Hardik Pandya, batting before Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh, found it difficult to counter a 151 km/hr yorker from Pathirana, whose deliveries repeatedly troubled India in the remaining overs, including one that trapped Parag lbw and another slower variation that bowled out Pant. Axar Patel hit a six off the last ball, helping India reach 213, a total they were content with after losing the toss. Although, at one stage, they appeared set for 240—an assessment echoed by opposition captain Asalanka post-match.
SRI LANKA
Power Play: Sri Lanka off to a fast start
Phase score: 55/0 [7x4s, 2x6s]
Sri Lanka may not have matched the pace in the first six overs, but they prevented India from making early inroads. Nissanka particularly took the initiative, starting the chase aggressively with consecutive boundaries in the opening over and later targeting Mohammed Siraj with two sixes in quick succession. Despite Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi bowling half of the PowerPlay overs, they couldn’t extract the kind of impact Hasaranga made earlier.
Middle overs: Nissanka dominates India
Phase score: 94/3 [10x4s, 3x6s]
Sri Lanka controlled the middle overs even after losing three wickets, two of them falling in the last over of this phase. With India having used their primary spinners during the PowerPlay, they lacked alternatives in the middle overs. Pandya began with a short, wide ball that was hit for four and continued to concede runs throughout his spell of 4-0-41-0. Arshdeep Singh eventually ended the 84-run opening partnership by fooling Kusal Mendis with a knuckle ball. However, India continued to suffer as Nissanka and Mendis quickly added 46 runs. At 140/1 after 14 overs, Sri Lanka seemed in complete control, but Axar Patel turned the momentum by dismissing top-scorer Nissanka and Kusal Perera in the 15th over.
Death overs: Sri Lanka collapse
Phase score: 21/7 [3x4s, 0x6s]
Sri Lanka crumbled from 140/1 to 149/4 and eventually to 170 all out, losing 9 wickets for 30 runs within 31 balls. Charith Asalanka was bowled by a Bishnoi googly, Dasun Shanaka was run out without facing a ball, Kamindu Mendis was bowled by Parag, and Hasaranga was caught following the plan at mid-on. It became a matter of time for India. Parag added the wickets of Theekshana and Madushanka, ending with figures of 3 for 5, and contributing to Sri Lanka’s dismissal with four balls remaining.
Brief Scores:
India 213/7 (Yadav 58, Pant 49; Pathirana 4-40) defeated Sri Lanka 170 all out in 19.2 overs (Nissanka 79, Kusal 45; Parag 3-5, Arshdeep 2-24, Patel 2-38) by 43 runs .