Pathum Nissanka led Sri Lanka‘s charge with a 48-ball 79, and the team appeared poised to stun world champions India in their pursuit of 214. But when he was dismissed by Axar Patel in the 15 over, Sri Lanka fell apart. At the beginning of the 15th, Sri Lanka was 140/1; by the 18th, they were over 163/7. India won by 43 runs as Riyan Parag took the final two wickets with the first two deliveries of the final over.
In his debut encounter as India’s full-time T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav earlier hammered 58 in 26 balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill also blazing an opening partnership of 74 in the first six overs as India put up a score of 213/7 batting first in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. In the middle overs, Suryakumar provided cover for Rishabh Pant’s troubles, as the Indian captain quickly reached his 20th T20I half-century in just 22 balls. After that, he walked on 58 off 26 balls after being trapped LBW by a magnificent torpedo from Matheesha Pathirana. With his yorker-slinging skills, Pathirana then sent Riyan Parag and Hardik Pandya back.
After India lost the toss, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill destroyed Sri Lanka. Normally, Gill stays back and Jaiswal creams the boundaries, but on this occasion, both players attacked the bowling and India amassed over 70 runs in the powerplay. Gill had 34 off 16 when he was dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka on the final ball of the sixth over. Wanindu Hasaranga then dismissed Jaiswal on 40 off 21 with the first ball of the next over. In just 36 balls, their opening combination scored 74 runs.
