Match Updates:
Sri Lanka innings:
Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis have struck boundaries at will to get their side off to an excellent start in pursuit of 214 in 1st T20I in Pallekele. Arshdeep Singh came for his 2nd spell and got the breakthrough for India by dismissing Kusal Mendis.
Nissanka gets to his half-century in 34 deliveries to keep the hosts in sight of chasing down 214 for victory.
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Even as Pathum Nissanka blazed away a 48-ball 79, the target of 213 proved to be a bridge too far for Sri Lanka as India pinned them down by 43 runs in Pallekele to take a 1-0 series lead. The opening partnership of 84 was the only massive one throughout the innings as Sri Lanka's middle-order found themselves wanting.
India innings:
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav kickstarted his full-time captaincy stint in ecstatic fashion as India finished with a healthy total of 213/7 in 20 overs. After a blistering start by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav struck an explosive half-century before perishing for 58. The right-handed batter shared a 76-run stand with Rishabh Pant, who made a brisk 49.
Matheesha Pathirana gets Suryakumar Yadav for 58 as the Sri Lankan pacer cranks it up to 149 mph. Pathirana also gets Hardik Pandya as the hosts look to limit the damage in the death overs.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav hit a fifty off 22 balls to propel the Indian innings. He's in the middle of a 70-run partnership with Rishabh Pant.
India got off to a frantic start thanks to openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who added 74 for the 1st wicket in the powerplay. Gill made 34 while Jaiswal scored 40 after Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Suryakumar Yadav lost his first toss as Team India's new T20I captain as Sri Lanka opted to bowl first in Pallekele.
SL vs IND 1st T20I Preview
India's new leadership team, coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, are poised to make their mark against a beleaguered Sri Lankan side in an upcoming limited-overs series. The series begins with three T20Is in Pallekele on Saturday.
Gambhir, a two-time World Cup winner, has taken on the role of India's head coach. Suryakumar Yadav, renowned as one of the top T20I batsmen, has been named the new captain.
Gambhir has proven his coaching prowess in the IPL, winning three titles with the Kolkata Knight Riders — twice as captain and once as a mentor. He steps into the shoes of the well-respected Rahul Dravid, who guided the team to the finals in the most recent editions of each ICC event.
Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Welalage.
