Welcome to the 36th Edition of The Cricket Diaries!

India vs. Sri Lanka: 3-Match T20I Series Recap

After the successful Zimbabwe tour, the Indian cricket team faced Sri Lanka in a 3-match T20I series. Here are the details of each game that highlights the key performances.

1st T20I: A Comprehensive Win

Date: 27th July 2024

Location: Pallekele

Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and decided to bowl first. Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill started aggressively, scoring 74 runs in the powerplay. Gill was dismissed after a quick-fire 34 off 16 balls, and Jaiswal followed soon after with 20 off 21 balls. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant steadied the innings, with Surya scoring a destructive fifty and Pant contributing 49 off 33 balls. India posted a formidable 213 runs.

Sri Lanka started well, with their openers putting up 84 runs for the first wicket. However, after the 13th over, their middle order collapsed, and India won by 43 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Key Performances:

• Suryakumar Yadav: 50+ runs

• Rishabh Pant: 49 runs

• Indian Bowlers: Effective in the middle and death overs

2nd T20I: Another Dominant Show

Date: 28th July 2024

Location: Pallekele

Captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl. Opener Pathum Nissanka gave Sri Lanka a good start with 32 off 24 balls. Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis built a solid partnership, with Perera scoring 53 off 34 balls. Sri Lanka finished with 161 runs in 20 overs.

Rain affected the game, and India was set a target of 78 runs in 8 overs via the DLS method. Gill was rested, and Sanju Samson opened with Jaiswal. Samson was dismissed for a golden duck, but Jaiswal and Surya steadied the innings. Despite losing wickets, India chased the target, winning by 7 wickets and taking a 2-0 series lead.

Key Performances:

• Kusal Perera: 53 runs

• Suryakumar Yadav: Crucial runs in a rain-affected chase

• Indian Bowlers: Contained Sri Lanka to a manageable total

3rd T20I: All Drama, Game of Moments

Date: 30th July 2024

Location: Pallekele

Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and chose to bowl. India struggled early, finding themselves at 30-4 in 6 overs. Shubman Gill provided some stability, and brilliant cameos from Riyan Parag and Washington Sundar helped India reach 137.

Sri Lanka started cautiously, losing their first wicket at 58. They seemed poised for victory at 110-1, but India made a remarkable comeback. Non-regular bowlers Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav took 4 wickets between them, reducing Sri Lanka to 132-8. The match ended in a tie, and in the Super Over, Sri Lanka managed just 2 runs. India chased the target in one ball, thanks to Surya's boundary, securing a 3-0 series whitewash.

Key Performances:

• Shubman Gill: Crucial runs under pressure

• Riyan Parag and Washington Sundar: Vital cameos

• Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav: Key wickets in the comeback

• Suryakumar Yadav: Match-winning boundary in the Super Over

Upcoming ODIs

The T20I series is done, and now India will play a 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on 2nd August 2024. Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the squad, and the Indian team will look to continue their dominance. Stay tuned for all the updates!

That wraps up this edition of The Cricket Diaries. Keep following for the latest cricket news and updates!

Regards,

Ashutosh Nayak

Founder, The Cricket Diaries!