India and Sri Lanka got ready to play the second T20I match on Sunday in Pallekele. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first after the toss was delayed by 15 minutes due to rain. India made one change as Shubman Gill missed out and was replaced by Sanju Samson.
Speaking at the toss, Suryakumar Yadav said that Shubman Gill had missed out due to neck spams. The right-handed batter had played well in the last game for India and helped the team score 74 runs in the first 6 overs.
Sri Lanka too made one change as they brought in Ramesh Mendis in for fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka. India had won the first game by 43 runs after scoring 213 runs while batting first and bowling out the hosts for just 170.
Team India looking to win the series
After winning the first game of the series, India will look to keep their amazing bilateral series record win steak alive. A win on Sunday will give them yet another series win and exact revenge for the series loss in the T20I format from three years ago.
Speaking at the toss Suryakumar Yadav said “We will look to bowl first. There is a bit of weather around and the wicket played better in the second innings. There are always areas to improve even when you win a game, you keep learning and you keep improving. Gill misses out as he woke up with a neck spasm, Samson comes in”
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka said “We are good to bat first. We have one change, Ramesh Mendis comes in for Dilshan Madhushanka. The first three batters played really well and the only concern is the line of the bowlers. It is a used pitch and hopefully spin will come into play in the later part”
Shubman Gill had scored 34 runs from 16 balls with 6 fours and a six in the first game. Suryakumar Yadav scored 58 off 26 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes while Rishabh Pant chipped in with 49 off 33 balls. Earlier Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India a great start with his 40 runs from 21 balls.
Chasing 214 to win, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis added 84 for the 1st wicket. From 140/1 Sri Lanka collapsed to 170 all out with Riyan Parag picking 3 wickets for five runs as Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh picked two wickets each.
Sri Lanka XI - Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando
India XI - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj