'No-balls in any format is a crime': Hardik Pandya on Arshdeep's 5 no-balls vs Sri Lanka

Bowling balls in any format is a crime, said India skipper Hardik Pandya, ding that it was t about blaming Arshdeep Singh but young pacer needs to go back and rectify his basic errors.

India slumped to a 16-run loss in second T20I as Sri Lanka levelled three-match series 1-1.

Returning to side after missing opener, Arshdeep looked rusty and bowled as many as five -balls in his two overs, giving away 37 runs. 

"You can have a good day, you can have a b day, but you shouldn't be moving away from basics. For Arshdeep, in this situation, it is very difficult. In past as well he's bowled -balls," Pandya said at post-match presentation.

"It is t about blaming him or to be too hard on him, but we kw -balls in any format is a crime." 

Pandya felt India were t up to mark in powerplays both while bowling and batting.

"Both in bowling and batting, powerplay hurt us. We me some basic errors, which we shouldn't be making at this level. Everyone kws what it is. learning for us is we should be focussing on what we can control," he said.

On debutant Rahul Tripathi being sent to bat at number three, Pandya said: "Rahul is accustomed to playing at . 3, and someone coming in, we want to give m a role y are comfortable with. That's why he batted at . 3."

Dasun Shanaka led from front, staring with bat and ball both. 

Sri Lankan skipper, who hit a 22-ball 56 before defending 21 off last over, was judged player of match.

"We could've done well in middle part. Game was set by openers. Need to play well in middle order to allow finishers to finish well," Shanaka said.

He lavished praise on Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yav, who stitched a 91-run sixth wicket stand to almost take game away from Sri Lanka.

"It's t dew factor, it's skill of Indian batters. y took game away from us but still we mand to hold nerve. Really good to defend total especially against India in se conditions."