SL vs IND: Hardik Pandya gifts one of his spare bats to Chamika Karunaratne
India started the T20I series with a bang against Sri Lanka as they won the first match by 38 runs. It was a clinical display and a statement of authority by Men in Blue. The home team ticked all the boxes, but one area that’s just a slight bit of concern for the management is the form of Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder is not at his best of his elements and that has left India a touch worried.
In the preceding ODI series too, the 27-year-old didn’t do much with the bat and ball as he scored just 19 runs and picked up two wickets. Things didn’t change much either in the first T20I, as he scored just 10 runs and picked up a sole wicket. But still, he is the news and for all the right reasons.
Ahead of the first T20I, Pandya was seen giving a spare bat to Sri Lankan cricketer Chamika Karunaratne. The junior Pandya is known for his generous nature and also for always helping his fellow teammates and opponent players as well. This time too, Pandya made sure to help Karunaratne have one of his bats. In a picture, we can also see how elated Karunaratne was receiving the bat.
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India march along by winning the first T20I match
Speaking about the match, the Lankans again squandered the opportunity to seize the game in crunch situations. The home side did well to restrict the visitors to 164 but failed miserably with the bat. Meanwhile, India were as clinical as they could be as their batters led by Suryakumar Yadav and the bowlers led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar stepped up.
Yadav scored a sizzling 50 and continued to impress and Bhuvi was not far behind as he picked up four wickets and bundled Sri Lanka out for just 126. The right-arm bowler was named player of the match for his excellent performance with the ball.
With a win in the first game, the Men in Blue will look to keep the winning momentum going. With this being the last T20I series for India, the fringe players will hope to impress in the two remaining games and press their case for inclusion in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
