In the first T20I of the three-match series held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on  Saturday (July 27), India secured a commanding 43-run victory over Sri Lanka.

Suryakumar Yadav’s high-class batting

Batting first, India posted their highest T20I total in Sri Lanka, scoring 213/7 in 20 overs. Captain Suryakumar Yadav led the charge with a brilliant 58 off 26 balls, which included 8 boundaries and 2 sixes. The opening partnership between Shubman Gill (34 off 16) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 off 21) set a solid foundation, contributing 74 runs from just 36 balls.

Despite a brief slump where India lost two quick wickets, Yadav’s explosive innings and Rishabh Pant’s vital knock of 49 from 33 balls propelled the total beyond 200. Pant’s innings, which included 6 fours and one solitary six, was crucial in accelerating the scoring rate. Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag added some valuable lower-order runs, though both were dismissed trying to push the scoring rate in the final overs.

Also WATCH: SL vs IND: Matheesha Pathirana takes out Hardik Pandya with a brilliant 151 kmph yorker in the 1st T20I

Matheesha Pathirana’s impressive spell

Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana was the standout bowler, claiming 4 wickets for 40 runs. He was particularly impactful with his 151 km/h yorker that dismissed Hardik and his subsequent spell that kept Sri Lanka in the game. Despite Pathirana’s efforts, Sri Lanka struggled to contain the Indian batters and couldn’t stopped them from breaching the 200 runs mark.

Sri Lanka’s fightback and collapse

In response, Sri Lanka started strongly with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis adding 84 runs for the first wicket. Nissanka, who top-scored with 79 off 48 balls, and Mendis (45 off 27) gave Sri Lanka a strong start. However, the Indian bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel, made crucial breakthroughs. Patel dismissed Nissanka and Kusal Perera in quick succession, while Arshdeep and Parag played key roles in restricting Sri Lanka’s chase. Kamindu Mendis showed some resistance with a quick-fire 12, but India’s disciplined bowling and fielding ensured Sri Lanka were bowled out for 170 in 19.2 overs. Parag’s tight final overs and a crucial run-out played pivotal roles in sealing the win for India.

Here’s how Fans reacted:

From 140-1 in 14 overs to 164-7 in 18 overs is quite a #collapse !! #SriLanka seemed set to upset #India but quite strangely their challenge has fizzled out!! #INDvSL

— siddhaarth mahan (@siddhaarthmahan) July 27, 2024

What a shift in momentum! Sri Lanka was cruising at one point, but then the things turned in India’s favor. What a comeback!

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) July 27, 2024

A World Cup winning catch in his last T20I and now a rapid 50 in his 1st T20I as full time captain, SKY’s stocks are only going up. What a true india champion. #INDvsSL

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 27, 2024

The Indian batters were outstanding tonight!! @ybj_19 and @ShubmanGill provided a strong opening, while @surya_14kumar and @RishabhPant17’s contributions bolstered the middle order. The first innings have shown positive batting glimpses for India’s future as well as for…

— Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) July 27, 2024

Consecutive wickets for Riyan Parag to finish off the game. He finish with figures of 5 runs and 3 wickets. #SLvIND

— Prantik (@Pran__07) July 27, 2024

Leaving this here tonight,

Matheesha Pathirana is the only silver lining in the Sri Lankan Cricket team, Mann.

Their team isn’t worth for anything else. #INDvSL #SLvIND

— Sharon Solomon (@BSharan_6) July 27, 2024

A thrilling victory to seal the opening encounter in Pallekele for #TeamIndia 🇮🇳💙#AavaDe | #SLvIND

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) July 27, 2024

SURYA DADA 🔥

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) July 27, 2024

Axar Patel’s brilliant over turned the game for India, claiming two crucial wickets. Stellar captaincy from Surya, bringing in Riyan Parag for an over to dismiss the left-hander with his off-spin. Caught the pulse of the game really well. #INDvSL

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 27, 2024

India defeated Sri Lanka by 43 runs in the first T20I 🏏

– India take a 1-0 lead in the series 🙌#cricket #SLvIND #suryakumaryadav #TeamIndia #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/D99ZqDsTpa

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) July 27, 2024

A new dawn. A new challenge. Success, all the same! 🤌#TeamIndia start GG Era with a scintillating win against 🇱🇰! 🤩#PlayBold #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/bWsOFFgyw9

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) July 27, 2024

Also READ: SL vs IND 2024, T20I Series: Broadcast, live streaming details – When and Where to watch in India, US, UK, Pakistan & other countries

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