Twitter Reactions: Clinical India breeze past Sri Lanka in Indore to go 1-0 up in the series

After a damp squib in Guwahati which led to abandonment, India have won the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Indore. It was a clinical performance from the home side with the ball first and then the bat as the visitors failed to put up a fighting total on the board on a flat pitch. India have now taken an unassailable lead of 1-0 in the three-match series with the final set to be played in Pune.

Sri Lanka, after losing the toss, got off to a decent enough start. Danushka Gunathilaka and Avishka Fernando scored briskly to add 38 runs in less than five overs before Washington Sundar struck the first blow. He got the better of the latter even as Navdeep Saini castled Gunathilaka with a 147.5 kmph yorker and from here on, the visitors never got going.

Though Kusal Perera tried to hang in and scored three sixes on his way to 34 off 28 deliveries, no batsman could make it big. Rather Sri Lanka collapsed from 82/2 in the 12th over to 130/9 after 19 overs. Bumrah, surprisingly, went for 12 runs in the last over as the tourists crawled to 142/9 after 20 overs. For India, Shardul Thakur, courtesy a three-wicket over, returned with the figures of 3/23 while the others also chipped in with timely wickets.

India canter home in the chase

The moderate total was never going to trouble India. It started with KL Rahul smothering Sri Lankan bowlers to all parts with utter ease while Shikhar Dhawan played second fiddle. Rahul rather was pleasing to watch as he unfurled out a few crisp drives even as the wrists also came into play when he played the ball to the leg-side. He scored 45 off 32 deliveries with six fours before getting out to Wanindu Hasaranga.

Dhawan’s travails in the shortest format continued as he looked confused over his approach during his 29-ball 32-run stay in the middle. Even he was snaffled by the same bowler and Sri Lanka might have sensed a slender of a chance at this stage. However, it wasn’t to be. Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli helped India get close to victory with the former falling with just six runs needed.

India sealed the chase in the 17th over of the innings with seven wickets in hand to take a lead in the series. This also proved to be the fourth consecutive loss for Sri Lanka in the format. The third and final T20I of the series will now be played on January 10 with the first bilateral rubber of the year up for grabs for India. The visitors, on the other hand, will have to improve significantly to have any chance of levelling the series in Pune.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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

Just how good is K L Rahul. A fine example of how technique can liberate a batsman…doesn’t necessarily slow you down. #IndvSL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 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

This is a little embarrassing 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ Tooo easy for India #Indvsl

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) 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

Most defeats in T20Is:

62 – Sri Lanka*
61 – West Indies
60 – Bangladesh#INDvSL

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 7, 2020

India have taken a 1-0 lead in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. #Cricket #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/SrPVIT73UY

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) 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