Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 1st T20I – Who Said What

After clinching the ODIs 2-1, India started off the T20Is on the correct note as they glided to a comprehensive 38-run victory on Sunday in Colombo. Put in to bat first by the hosts, India, on the back of Suryakumar Yadav’s 34-ball 50 and Shikhar Dhawan’s 36-ball 46, posted 164/5 in what looked like a slightly undercooked total.

However, the bowlers would eventually prove it otherwise. Meanwhile, contributions, albeit small, were there for the taking from Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson too, who scored quick twenties to push the team total past the eight-run-an-over territory.

In response, Sri Lanka did not have the worst of starts. However, the target was slightly beyond the range for them to afford a collapse and yet cross the line. At 90/3 in the 13th over, they were still in the game, but it did not take too long for India to get them down to 126 all out, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar bagging 4 for 22 in 3.3 overs.

Deepak Chahar managed two for himself, while all in Varun Chakravarthy, Yuzvendra Chahal, and both Pandyas managed one apiece. For the visitors, there was hardly a fight barring Charith Asalanka’s 44 off 26, but once he was undone by Chahar, Sri Lanka never seemed a team getting close to India’s tally.

Winning skipper, Shikhar Dhawan

I thought we were 10-15 runs short. I feel we played quite well after losing early wickets. It was about one or two boundaries, we knew we could get going. He(SKY) is a great player and we enjoy watching him bat. He took the pressure from me and the way he plays calculated shots was amazing to watch. They were playing well, we knew our spinners will do the job on that wicket. Bhuvi bowled well, so was KP. Everyone stood up and even Varun too playing his first match did well giving a few runs and got the wicket. Prithvi is playing well and he is going to bounce back stronger. He’s (Varun) difficult to pick, I am very happy for him.

Losing skipper, Dasun Shanaka

 164 was chaseable on this wicket. Bowlers up front started well but our batsmen faltered. Asalanka and Bandara’s wicket was the turning point for us. I thought our bowlers did an amazing job on this wicket. I hope boys come out and deliver for us. I am proud of the debutants today.

Player of the Match, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

I executed what I wanted to and I am satisfied. I played ODIs after a few months but execution is really important for me. The wicket was difficult to bat against the spinners.