India’s unbeaten run since the World Cup continued as they secured a 43-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ongoing T20I series.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, India set a formidable target with a total of 213 runs. Openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal provided a solid start, with Jaiswal scoring 40 runs off 21 balls and Gill adding 34 runs off 16 balls. Suryakumar Yadav then delivered a standout performance, amassing 58 runs off 26 balls and 49 runs off 33 balls.
Sri Lankan bowlers Pathirana, Dilshan, Fernando, and Hasaranga each contributed to the bowling attack, with Pathirana claiming 4 wickets, and the others taking 1 wicket each.
In response, Sri Lanka’s chase saw strong performances from Nishanka, who scored 79 off 48 balls, and Kusal Mendis, who added 45 runs off 27 balls. The pair put together an 84-run partnership for the first wicket. However, Sri Lanka struggled to maintain momentum as wickets fell rapidly, leading to their dismissal for 170 runs in 19.2 overs.
India’s bowlers played a crucial role in the victory, with Riyan Parag taking 3 wickets, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel each claiming 2 wickets, and Siraj and Bishnoi adding 1 wicket each. India now leads the series 1-0.