Kishan and Iyer star in India’s crushing 62 run victory over Sri Lanka

Ishan Kishan’s 56-ball 89 and Shreyas Iyer’s sublime 57* off 28 paved the way for India to set a challenging total of 199-run total in the 20-over contest. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Venkatesh Iyer shared 4 wickets to make sure India finish ahead of the visitors.

Successfully auditioning for the opener’s role in the first T20I of the three-match series on Thursday, younger Ishan Kishan inspired Rohit Sharma-led Team India to register a memorable win over Sri Lanka at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. Making amends after a series of mediocre knocks in the shortest format of the game, opener Kishan top-scored for India as the hosts upstaged Sri Lanka by 62 runs in the series opener at Lucknow.
After losing the toss in the curtain-raiser of the bilateral series, skipper Rohit confirmed that Virat Kohli-less Team India side has made 6 changes to their playing XI following their rare double over the West Indies. While all-rounder Deepak Hooda made his T20I debut, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad failed to feature for the hosts in the series opener. Speaking at the coin toss, skipper Rohit confirmed that Gaikwad has missed the first T20I due to a wrist injury.
Asked to bat first in the first T20I at Lucknow, India made a brilliant start as openers Rohit and Kishan demolished the bowling attack of the Islanders in the opening Powerplay. Playing a perfect second fiddle to an on-song Kishan, skipper Rohit played a gritty knock of 44 off 32 balls to become the all-time leading run-getter in the history of the shortest format. Rohit’s partner-in-crime Kishan played a gem of a knock which laid the foundation of a match-winning total. Kishan’s 56-ball 89 and Shreyas Iyer’s sublime 57* off 28 paved the way for India to set a challenging total of 199-run total in the 20-over contest.

In reply, Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka only mustered 135-6 in 20 overs as the visitors lost the match by 62 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Venkatesh Iyer shared 4 wickets to make sure India finish ahead of the visitors. Overshadowing Jasprit Bumrah’s return into the T20 mix, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal removed Sri Lanka captain Shanaka to become India’s leading wicket-taker in the shortest format. Charith Asalanka notched up a noteworthy half-century although his heroics went in vain at Lucknow. Kishan’s batting masterclass has also helped Rohit & Co. to extend India’s longest winning streak in the shortest format to 10 matches. Rohit’s Team India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday.

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