The men in blue clinched victory in their first T20 match of the India tour of Sri Lanka. Surya Kumar Yadav, shining in his debut as permanent captain, was named Player of the Match.
Despite facing significant controversies and criticism, Gautam Gambhir and Surya Kumar Yadav began their journey with a resounding victory. While SKY had previously experienced the captaincy of the Indian T20 team, this match marked GG’s first win as coach. The Hosts dominated the hosts in the first T20I, securing a decisive and one-sided victory in the India tour of Sri Lanka.
Mr. Calm, Gautam Gambhir, was concerned when Sri Lanka reached 84 without losing wickets. However, by the 17.1 over mark, GG was smiling, confident in his astute choice of captain. Surya Kumar Yadav made several bold decisions that could have altered the match’s course, but fortunately, they proved to be right.
Surya Kumar Yadav impressed the spectators with his exceptional batting and outstanding leadership. India won the first T20I with a huge margin of 43 runs, and skipper SKY was named the Player of the Match award.
India vs Sri Lanka Highlights
India kicked off its tour of Sri Lanka with the first T20 match of the three-match series. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision by Asalanka that ultimately backfired against the batting-packed Indian team.
The Indian opening pair, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave a strong start, scoring 74 runs in just six overs without losing any wickets. However, after they both returned to the pavilion at 74, India faced some trouble. But once Surya Kumar Yadav took the position, all concerns faded away.
SKY scored a dazzling 58 off 26 balls, featuring eight fours and two towering sixes. Additionally, Rishabh Pant played a crucial innings of 49 runs. Gill and Jaiswal also contributed with 34 and 40 runs, respectively.
The IPL’s discovery, Matheesha Pathirana, proved dangerous for the Indian lineup, taking four wickets. Despite this, India set a massive total of 213 runs in 20 overs.
In response, Sri Lanka also got off to a strong start. India was in deep trouble at one point, with both Gautam Gambhir and Surya Kumar Yadav anxiously biting their nails. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis built a solid partnership of 84 runs. However, Axar Patel, who did not get a chance to bat, made a significant impact with the ball.
Sri Lanka lost their first wicket at 84 and their second at 140. However, after that, they struggled to find big moments to smile about, continuously losing wickets. From 149 for 3, they lost their remaining wickets, adding only 21 more runs.
SKY’s choice, Riyan Parag, took the team’s highest three wickets. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel also contributed two wickets each.
The pair of Surya Kumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir secured their first international victory in the opening match of the India tour of Sri Lanka.
Also read: India Tour of Sri Lanka: Full Schedule and Squad Details
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