IND vs SL: 2nd T20I Review – Commanding performance hands hosts series lead
A highly professional performance first with the ball and some fireworks later with the bat helped India beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in Indore. The result ensures India cannot lose the series with their 1-0 lead after the washout in Guwahati. The final match of the series will be played on 10th January in Pune. With the hosts firing on all cylinders and a toothless display from the visitors, it will require a mighty task from the Lankans to level the series.
Check out the full scorecard here
Visitors fail to break the shackle
Batting first, Sri Lanka could never ignite the ignition against India’s quality attack. They had no answers against the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini. The fast bowlers attacked and defended with great valour, never letting the Lankan batsmen get out of their shells. Only Kusal Perera (34) showed any signs of troubling the bowlers. When it was finally time to hit the accelerator, Sri Lanka simply could not rise up to the occasion. They started to lose wickets left, right and centre. Thakur was the pick of the bowlers with 3 scalps with Saini contributing 2 and Bumrah 1 wicket each. Bumrah looked fit and raring to go on his comeback, despite being a tad expensive by his standards. Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with 2 wickets, despite going for 38 runs in his spell. In the end, Sri Lanka only posted a score of 142 on the board, which was never going to be enough on a flat deck.
Rahul edges ahead in battle with Dhawan
The match was also significant as it was a straight shoot-out between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul. Only one of them will get to partner Rohit Sharma at the start of the T20 World Cup for India later this year in Australia. The pair had an opening stand of 71, which put the hosts firmly in command of the contest. But Rahul in his knock of 45 in 32 deliveries appeared much more convincing than the southpaw. The questions of whether Dhawan being aggressive enough will rise again after he only managed to score 32 in 29 deliveries. Right now, Rahul is clearly winning the contest.
Iyer, Kohli finish the job
With the quality which they possess in their locker, skipper Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer were never going to find it tough to chase the score down. The Lankan bowlers tried their utmost best, delivering a few miserly overs. But it was only a matter of time before the two batters put their foot down on the peddle. After a steady start, Iyer took the onus on himself to finish off the match as quickly as possible. He was especially punishing against Hasaranga, as a couple of big hits ensured a 17 run 16th over. Kohli then showed his complete might against Malinga in the next over, with the pair scoring 16 runs. Their partnership of 51 ensured that it was a cruise for the Indian team to seal a victory. Iyer went for glory attempting a big hit off Kumara but was dismissed for 34. But with the target required now in single digits, Kohli ended the match with a smashing hit.
