During the first T20I of the Nidahas Trophy between Sri Lanka and India at Colombo, Shikhar Dhawan put on display tremendously mature innings to resurrect India from a spot of bother. After Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lankan captain, won the toss and chose to bowl, India were dented early in the innings.

India lost their captain Rohit Sharma (0) and Suresh Raina (1) in the first and the second over respectively. Dhawan and Manish Pandey (37) shared a 95-run stand to lay a foundation for the Indian innings. The duo, predominantly Dhawan, handled the situation with utmost control.

Spending time on the wicket to get their eye in was given priority than just going for the big ones. Resultant of which, the runs eventually came after the powerplay was over.

At the end of the powerplay, India had scored 40-2. Boundaries started to come post the powerplay. Dhawan rode his luck to full effect as he scored two consecutive sixes off Nuwan Pradeep via top edges. It gave the much-required momentum to the Indian innings. Dhawan brought up his fifth half-century in the 11th over with a cover drive boundary off Akila Dananajaya.

After Pandey’s dismissal in the 14th over, the responsibility on Dhawan had increased for he had to play longer innings in a bid to give India the finish that they required. Dhawan did not disappoint his team and fans as he kept scoring at a good pace. He hit two sixes off Dushmantha Chameera as India scored 16 runs in the 17th over.

Dhawan finally got out on the last delivery of the 18th over. He ended up scoring 90 (49) with the help of six fours and six sixes. It was hapless that Dhawan missed his maiden T20I century. Given the way he played today, he deserved to become the fourth Indian to score a century in all the formats of the game.