Team India completely Sri Lanka in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Holkar Stadium in Indore after the first game being washed out in Guwahati and took an unassailable 1-0 lead. After winning the toss, the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli decided to bowl first citing the dew factor. Both teams announced unchanged XIs.
Sri Lanka didn’t have the expected as their openers, Danushka Gunathikla and Avishka Fernando only managed to add 38 runs for the first wicket before the latter getting dismissed by Washington Sundar in the fifth over. After that, the Islanders never managed to stitch a partnership as they kept on losing the wicket at regular intervals.
WATCH – Kuldeep Yadav Takes The Revenge With Kusal Perera
Surprisingly, Kohli handed the ball to Kuldeep in the 12th over of the innings when they were already reeling at 75/2. However, on the very first ball of his spell, Yadav was smashed by Kusal Perera for a six and he got the wicket of the Oshada Fernando on the third ball of the over as Rishabh Pant affected an easy stumping.
In his second over, Kuldeep again got smashed for a six on the very first ball by Perera but this time he managed to take the revenge by dismissing teh batsman on the very next ball which reduced the visitors to 97/4. Sri Lanka never managed to get back to the game after that as in the 19th over, Shardul Thakur got three wickets and they only managed to reach a total of 142/9 in their quota of 20 overs.
During the chase, the Indian openers, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan came out all guns blazing as they added as many as 71 runs for the opening wicket. However, Rahul was dismissed by Wanindu Hasranga in the 10th over and Dhawan was dismissed by the same bowler in his next over.
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After Dhawan’s dismissal, Kohli along with Shreyas Iyer added 51 runs in just 35 balls, but the latter got out in the 18th ver with just 6 runs required. However, the Indian skipper finished the things off in style by smashing Lahiru Kumara for a six over the fine-leg boundary. India chased won the total with 7 wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
India – 144/3 in 17.3 overs (KL Rahul: 45, S Iyer: 34; W Hasranga: 2/30) defeated Sri Lanka – 142/9 in 20 overs (K Perera 34; S Thakur: 3/23, N Saini2/18) by 7 wickets and 15 balls to spare
Here is how Twitter reacted to India’s win:
Congratulations @imVkohli for fastest 1000 runs in T20 and Team India for taking 1-0 lead in #INDvSL series. Spell of Navdeep Saini was moment of the match. pic.twitter.com/zsXKL7kit6
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) January 7, 2020
This is a little embarrassing 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ Tooo easy for India #Indvsl
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) January 7, 2020
So we saw Navdeep Saini bowl a 107 kph ball, a 135 kph ball, & yes the 147 kph ball! Wow! 👏👏👏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 7, 2020
I can already feel the smile on the face of indian fans as well @RCBTweets fans seeing #navdeepsaini grow as a bowler #INDvSL
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 7, 2020
I'm a little surprised India have gone into this match with THREE @RCBTweets bowling options plus Y Chahal in reserve when theyve been consistently the worst @IPL bowling side over the last couple of seasons 🤔
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) January 7, 2020
Most wins against a team in T20Is:
13 – Pak v NZ
13 – Pak v SL
12 – Afg v Ire
12 – Eng v NZ
12 – Pak v Aus
12 – #INDvSL— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 7, 2020
Fastest to 1,000 T20I runs as a captain – by innings:
30 – VIRAT KOHLI*
31 – Faf du Plessis
36 – Kane Williamson
42 – Eoin Morgan
54 – William Porterfield
57 – MS Dhoni #INDvSL— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 7, 2020
Kohli finishes the match with a six and India starts the new year with a win.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 7, 2020
January, 2017: Kohli became the fastest to complete 1,000 ODI runs as a captain.
January, 2020: Kohli became the fastest to complete 1,000 T20I runs as a captain.#INDvSL
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 7, 2020
