During the first T20I of the Nidahas Trophy between Sri Lanka and India at Colombo, India scored a considerable total of 174-5 in 20 overs after being put in to bat by the opposition captain in Dinesh Chandimal.
The toss had finally put an end to the speculations regarding India’s playing eleven for this match. India had opted for Rishabh Pant ahead of Lokesh Rahul in the middle order. Vijay Shankar, Tamil Nadu’s captain, was handed a debut. Washington Sundar’s inclusion meant that Axar Patel had to further wait for his chance to be included in the playing eleven.
Dushmantha Chameera drew first blood in the form of the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma (0). Suresh Raina, who made his comeback on the recently-concluded tour of South Africa, failed to score big as he was bowled by Nuwan Pradeep for 1 in the second over.
It was a 95-run partnership between Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey which brought India back on the track. After Pandey (37) was dismissed in the 13th over, Dhawan took the complete onus on him. By that time, he had completed his fifth T20I half-century.
Pant was sent in ahead of Dinesh Karthik, but was unable to keep the scoreboard ticking. He struggled to find his timing, as a result of which, the pressure kept on mounting on Dhawan. The opener has to be credited for he played a sensible innings at a time when his team required it the most. He ended up scoring 90 (49) with the help of six fours and six sixes and was dismissed by Danushka Gunathilaka in the 18th over.
In their allotted quota of 20 overs, India scored 174-5, a score which they would have agreed upon after losing Rohit and Raina in the first two overs. Pant was the last Indian batsman to depart. He scored an ordinary 23 (23) with the help of a four and a six. Karthik, who came in to bat at No. 6 remained unbeaten on 13.
For Sri Lanka, with bowling figures of 4-0-33-2, Dushmantha Chameera was the pick of the bowlers. Their spinners in Akila Dananajaya, Jeevan Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka bowled half of the overs and conceded only 74 runs.
