IND vs SL 2024, 1st T20I: Who won yesterday’s India vs Sri Lanka match?

India beat Sri Lanka by 43 runs in yesterday's T20I match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Sent into bat, the Men in Blue put up 213-7. In their chase, Sri Lanka were well placed at 140-1 after 14 overs. However, they crumbled in shocking fashion to be bowled out 170 in 19.2 overs, losing nine wickets for just 30 runs.

Chasing a challenging target of 214, Sri Lanka got off to a brilliant start as Pathum Nissanka (79 off 48) and Kusal Mendis (45 off 27) took on the Indian bowlers from the word go. The opening duo featured in a blazing 84-run stand inside nine overs. The whirlwind alliance was broken when Arshdeep Singh bowled a knuckleball into the wicket and forced Mendis to drag a pull to deep midwicket.

Nissanka, though, carried on the good work for Sri Lanka in the company of Kusal Perera as the boundaries kept flowing. Axar Patel (2-38), though, turned the game on its head by dismissing both batters in the same over. He cleaned up Nissanka with an arm ball and had Perera (20 off 14) caught at deep square leg off one that bounced a little extra.

The wheels completely came off Sri Lanka's innings after Axar's twin strikes. Skipper Charith Asalanka (0) perished for a duck, trying to take on Ravi Bishnoi. Former captain Dasun Shanaka was run out without facing a ball, while the lower-order completely crumbled as Riyan Parag helped himself to three wickets.

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Suryakumar, Jaiswal dazzle for India with the bat

Sent into bat, India came up with a good effort to post 215-plus. Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 off 21) and Shubman Gill (34 off 16) got the visitors off to a rapid start, adding 74 in six overs. Both batters fell in quick succcession as Gill miscued a slower one from Dilshan Madushanka, while Jaiswal was foxed by a superb googly from Wanindu Hasaranga.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav (58 off 26), though, kept the momentum going for Team India. He timed the ball in exquisite fashion, striking eight fours and two sixes in a typically aggressive knock before being trapped in front by Matheesha Pathirana (4-40).

Rishabh Pant struggled in the first half of the innings but ended up contributing a decent 49 off 33, with the aid of six fours and a six.

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Who was Player of the Match in yesterday’s India vs Sri Lanka T20I?

Skipper Suryakumar and opener Jaiswal played blazing knocks for Team India. With the ball, Axar and Arshdeep claimed two scalps each, while Riyan picked up three at the end.

For Sri Lanka, fast bowler Pathirana starred with four wickets. Nissanka and Mendis dazzled in the chase, featuring in a rollicking opening stand.

Suryakumar, though, was named the Player of the Match for his attacking half-century.