India’s Mind Blowing Performance crushed Sri Lanka’s Dreams and Sealed T20 Series by 2-0.

India triumphed over Sri Lanka by 7 wickets (DLS method) in the second T20I match held in Pallekele, securing the three-match series on Sunday. Chasing a revised target of 78 in 8 overs, the visitors reached the goal in 6.3 overs, largely due to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s quickfire 30 off 15 balls. The match conditions were adjusted because of a rain delay in the second innings. Earlier, Ravi Bishnoi took 3 for 26, helping India restrict Sri Lanka to 161 for 9. Arshdeep Singh (2/24), Hardik Pandya (2/23), and Axar Patel (2/30) also contributed by taking two wickets each, as the hosts faltered in the final overs. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Perera top-scored with 53 off 34, while Pathum Nissanka added a solid 32 off 24 after being invited to bat first.

TOSS-

India won the toss and decided to bowl first .

TEAMS LINE UP:-

Sri Lanka:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (w), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando

India:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rishabh Pant (w), Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj

SRI LANKA

PowerPlay: Indian bowlers struggle again

Phase score: 54/1 [8x4s, 1x6s]

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera ensured a strong PowerPlay for Sri Lanka, exploiting India’s bowling in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Nissanka capitalized on Mohammed Siraj’s erratic start, gaining momentum early. After Kusal Mendis was dismissed by a slower delivery from Arshdeep Singh, Perera hit a boundary on his first ball, signaling Sri Lanka’s aggressive intent. Perera continued his assault with a six and a four off Siraj in the next over. Despite India bowling just one over of spin in the first six overs, the change in strategy did not yield immediate success.

Middle overs: Kusal Perera anchors Sri Lanka

Phase score: 76/1 [9x4s, 1x6s]

India bowled only one over of pace from overs 7 to 15, relying on their spin trio of Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, and Riyan Parag. Although Parag found significant turn and bounce, it was Bishnoi who made the breakthrough, trapping Nissanka with a googly. Perera, dropped on 32 by Rinku Singh, went on to score a 31-ball fifty, dominating a fifty-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis for the second wicket.

Death overs: Sri Lanka collapses

Phase score: 31/7 [0x4s, 2x6s]

India dominated the final overs of the Sri Lankan innings, much like the previous night. The hosts lost 7 wickets for 31 runs, collapsing to a below-par total of 161. The slide began in the 16th over bowled by Pandya, with Rinku Singh redeeming himself with two sharp catches to dismiss Kamindu and Perera. Bishnoi then took the wickets of Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga, finishing with figures of 3 for 26. Sri Lanka only managed to find the boundary once after Perera’s dismissal, with Ramesh Mendis hitting a six in the 20th over.

INDIA

The chase: A comfortable victory

Phase score: 81/3 [10x4s, 4x6s]

Three balls into the run-chase, a heavy shower delayed play for over an hour. India’s target was revised to 78 runs in 8 overs. Jaiswal wasted no time, hitting a boundary on the first delivery after the break. Sanju Samson, replacing the injured Shubman Gill, was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Maheesh Theekshana. However, Jaiswal continued his aggressive approach, attacking Hasaranga after the recalibrated two-over PowerPlay. Suryakumar Yadav, the Player of the Match from the first T20I, looked in good form, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Theekshana. Hardik Pandya’s quick 22* off 9 balls helped India chase the DLS-adjusted target with nine balls to spare.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 161/9 (Kusal Perera 53; Bishnoi 3-26) lost to India 81/3 in 6.3 overs (Jaiswal 30, Suryakumar 26, Pandya 22*; Theekshana 1-16) by 7 wickets (DLS)