Gautam Gambhir & Suryakumar Yadav Era Is Underway As India Beat Sri Lanka By 43 Runs In First T20I

The Gautam Gambhir era in Indian Cricket is well underway as the new head coach alongside India's new T20I Captain Suryakumar Yadav won their very first match in charge of their new roles as India held their nerve against a spirited Sri Lanka to emerge victorious by 43 runs in the first T20 International. 

India after being forced to bat first set up an intimidating total of 214 runs to chase after amazing knock by skipper Suryakumar Yadav. In the second innings it looked Sri Lanka were cruising towards victory at one stage of the game, however Indian bowlers kept their nerves and pulled away with the win towards the end.  

Suryakumar Yadav leads from the front 

India after losing the toss were asked to bat first by Sri Lanka and as it turned out openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave the side a perfect platform and were excellent at the top of the order. In just the first six overs, Gill and Jaiswal's partnership led India to 74 runs. 

But then wickets started to fall and batter Riyan Parag who was given the nod ahead of Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube once again had a disappointing outing of just 9 runs. 

Also Read | IND vs SL 1st T20I Highlights

But India weren't troubled as new skipper Suryakumar Yadav led from the front for his side scoring a blistering half century inside 26 balls 58 led India to the total of 213. Rishabh Pant (49 off 33 balls) struggled initially but did well to end just one short of half-century with some audacious shots both in-front and behind the square.

Indian Bowlers Fight Back

Chasing a total of 214, the Sri Lankan innings started strongly as they were cruising along with an opening partnership of 84 runs. However, Arshdeep Singh like he does so often for India stepped to take the wicket of Kusal Mendis who was batting beautifully at 45.

Sri Lanka's fight continued with Pathum Nissanka scoring 79 runs and Sri Lanka were steady till the 15th over. However in just the next 26 deliveries their innings unraveled as Indian bowlers took advantage of the slowness of the wicket as they bundled over Sri Lanka for 170 to register a 43 run victory.  

Axar Patel (2/38 in 4 overs) was very flat at the onset but got the breakthroughs when it mattered the most, bringing all his experience into effect.

Ravi Bishnoi (1/37 in 4 overs) is slowly becoming very predictable with hardly any leg-breaks to surprise the batters.

The right handers knew that the deliveries will come into them and they got inside the line to out-manoeuvre the wrist spinner.

The absence of Jasprit Bumrah was evident and it was only the scoreboard pressure that helped the 'Men in Blue' prevail in the end once Axar's arm ball got rid of Nissanka. He also got Kusal Perera (20) in the same over as the match decisively tilted in India's favour.

Once Bishnoi ended the spell with rival skipper Charith Asalanka's wicket, India completely gained control.

Skipper Suryakumar took a calculative punt of giving inexperienced Riyan Parag (3/5 in 1.2 overs) the 17th over and he removed Kamindu Mendis to justify his skipper's faith. The ever-improving Arshdeep (2/24 in 3 overs) also got his share of scalps as Riyan then finished the proceedings without much ado. Earlier, Suryakumar was swift and brutal in equal measure on his first day in office as the Indian top-order plundered Sri Lankan bowling to post a commanding total after being put into bat.

(With PTI Inputs)