Sri Lanka vs India, IND in SL, 3 T20Is, 2024 Full score card

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Make that third wicket for Riyan Parag! Two in two for Parag as India wrap things up. This has been a collapse of some enormity. At one point in the game, Sri Lanka were 140/1, only to lose their last 9 wickets for 30 runs to be bowled out for 170. Coming to the delivery, this was bowled from the back of the hand by Parag, fuller and quicker, on middle and leg, Dilshan Madushanka exposes all his stumps and swings with all his might. Misses the line of the ball and sees his woodwork disturbed. India win the series opener.

OUT! CASTLED! Riyan Parag has another! Parag comes from over the wicket and fires it in, on a full length, on the leg pole, Maheesh Theekshana ends up giving himself too much room to go through the off side. He plays outside the line of the ball and gets an outside edge that deflects onto the leg pole. Second wicket of the night for Parag.

Arshdeep Singh will most probably bowl the 20th over. The camera pans towards Gautam Gambhir and one can see a broad smile on his face. Oh, surprisingly it is Riyan Parag (1-0-5-1) to deliver the final over.

Spears a yorker in, on off, Asitha Fernando jams it out to mid off.

Asitha Fernando is the next batter in at number 10.

OUT! TAKEN! Mohammed Siraj gets on the wickets' column! Siraj keeps it full and straight, Matheesha Pathirana clears his front leg to go down the ground. Gets it off the inner half of the bat and spoons a simple catch to the man there. Axar Patel takes a few steps back and takes it over his head.

Maheesh Theekshana was gone for all money this time had the throw hit! Siraj nails the yorker, on middle and leg, Maheesh Theekshana jams it out onto his boot as the ball rolls down in front of him. Matheesha Pathirana sets off for a single and is more than halfway through the run before his partner sends him back. Siraj gets to the ball quickly, picks it up and turns around fo have a shy at the bowling end. He has all three stumps to aim at but missed. Suryakumar Yadav runs to his left to collect the throw at the bowling end but fails to gather it. The ball deflects off his hands and gets parried away from Axar Patel at mid on, who ran to his left to back SKY up. The ball races away for a boundary.

Angling in, on a length, on middle, Maheesh Theekshana swats it off the inner half of the bat to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A direct hit and Matheesha Pathirana was a goner! Siraj bowls it full and straight, at the stumps, Matheesha Pathirana firms the drive towards mid off and sets off for a single. Suryakumar Yadav picks it up cleanly and has a shy at the bowling end but misses. Pathirana was nowhere in the frame.

Siraj starts a new spell and gets the yorker in, outside off, Matheesha Pathirana looks to open the face of the bat and glide it down to deep third but misses.

Who bowls the penultimate over? With 50 to win off the last 12 balls remaining, Mohammed Siraj (2-0-17-0) will delivery the penultimate over.

A pin-point yorker by Arshdeep, honing in, on off, Maheesh Theekshana jams it out off the toe end of the bat back to the bowler.

Another delivery on a shortish length, on off, Matheesha Pathirana ducks and lets the ball go through.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere! Arshdeep comes from around the wicket and bangs it into the deck, at the batter. Matheesha Pathirana closes the bat face early and gets a leading edge that drops in front of Suryakumar Yadav at cover. SKY is a bit late on the ball, allowing the batters to sneak in a run.

Slower and fuller, going across, Matheesha Pathirana gets beaten all ends up as he looks to get it through the off side.

Full and slanting across the batter, Matheesha Pathirana pokes at the delivery and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Matheesha Pathirana is the new batter in at number 9.

OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Arshdeep Singh strikes on his return to the attack as India strengthen their grip on the game. Arshdeep digs it in short, on off. Wanindu Hasaranga hangs back and tries to flat-bat it over mid on. Hasaranaga fails to clear the man there as he gets it off the upper half of the bat. Riyan Parag at mid on, backtracks a bit and takes an easy catch near his chest. This has been dramatic collapse for Sri Lanka after a solid opening stand.

Tossed up outside the off stump. Hasaranga goes inside out towards deep cover for a single.

Full on the leg stump. Theekshana gets down on one knee and goes for the slog sweep. Ends up getting a big inside edge to deep mid-wicket for one.

Maheesh Theekshana is the new batter in for Sri Lanka at number 8.

OUT! TIMBER! The move to bring Riyan Parag into the attack has paid off for India and how. Maiden international wicket for Parag as he is chuffed to bits. Parag drifts it in from around the wicket, short and turning away, on off. Kamindu Mendis makes room to access the off side and throws his hands at the delivery. The ball pitches and spins away to go past the bat and it goes through to rattle into the off pole.

Clever bowling this from Parag. Very slow through the air, pitching on the middle and turning it away after pitching on a length. Kamindu Mendis backs away to play the cut shot but gets beaten by an excessive spin.

Full on the leg stump. Hasaranga tries to turn it toward the leg side, but ends up getting a leading edge to short third man for one.

Wanindu Hasaranga is in at number 7 now. The last recognised pair of batters are out in the middle now.

OUT! RUN OUT! Would you believe it? The hard hitting Dasun Shanaka is out without facing a ball. Sri Lanka continue to lose their way in the chase. From 140/1, they have slipped to 160/5. Riyan Parag starts from around the wicket and bowls an off-break, full and outside off, Kamindu Mendis brings out the reverse sweep and gets a feather on it. The ball beats Rishabh Pant to his left. Mohammed Siraj at short third gives it a chase as the batters decide to run the third one. Siraj turns around and fires in a throw at the batting end. Dasun Shanaka puts in a dive as Rishabh Pant takes the bails off. It is refereed upstairs and the replays show that the dive was not enough for Shanka as he had no point of his bat inside the crease when the stumps were disturbed.

Is Shanaka short of his crease? The throw comes in from the deep and Mohammed Siraj scores an excellent direct hit at the striker's end. The side-on replay shows that Dasun Shanaka is marginally short and even a dive couldn't save him. OUT.

Who walks in next to bat? The Sri Lankan veteran, Dasun Shanaka is in at number 6. Riyan Parag is into the attack, replacing Axar Patel.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! The wounded Ravi Bishnoi strikes! Wickets off successive overs for India and the spin twins are doing it for them. Charith Asalanka falls for a duck with Sri Lanka needing 56 runs off the last 4 overs. Ravi Bishnoi stays over the wicket and tosses it up, full and turning away as it is the googly, on middle, Charith Asalanka gets down for the slog sweep but gets a top edge as the ball spins away. Skies it high in the air towards deep backward square leg where Yashasvi Jaiswal settles under the skier and takes it.

Drags the length back and bowls a googly, on middle and leg, Charith Asalanka hangs on the back foot and taps it back to the bowler.

Slower and fuller, at the stumps, Kamindu Mendis mistimes the slog towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Two in two for Kamindu Mendis! Good proactive batting by the southpaw. Bishnoi fires it in flat and short, on leg, Kamindu Mendis backs away to access the off side and he knows that there is no protection in the deep in front of square on the off side. Gives himself room and punches it to the right of cover-point inside the circle for a boundary.

FOUR! Excellently played! Bishnoi angles it across, full and outside off, Kamindu Mendis uses the angle to his advantage and reverse sweeps it over short third for a boundary.

Ouch! That must have hurt Bishnoi. He drops the catch with the momentum, and the ball bounces off the ground and hits right under his eye. The physio is out in no time to check him up. Bishnoi has got a cut under his right eye and he gets a bandage in that area. After several checks again, he is good to continue.

DROPPED! Ravi Bishnoi shells another one! This time off his own bowling. To rub salt into the wounds, the ball strikes Bishnoi on the face and gets a cut under his left eye. Ravi Bishnoi dishes out the googly, slower through the air and shorter, on off. Kamindu Mendis looks to work it across the line but ends up closing the bat face early and gets a leading edge that loops back to the bowler. Ravi Bishnoi flings himself to his right for the catch but the ball hits his wrists and it deflects off the mentioned part of the hand to hit him below the left eye. Bishnoi is down on the ground and Indians gather around him before the physio comes out to treat the leggie.

The Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka walks in now.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Big, big moment in the game as both set batters are into the sheds in the span of just 5 deliveries. Axar Patel strikes with a double blow. Axar goes full and varies his pace this time around. Lands it a bit slow and around the middle and off corridor, Kusal Perera sees the length into his arc and goes for an expansive sweep shot but hits it aerially with no real timing on it. The travels straight down the throat of Ravi Bishnoi at deep square leg. Bishnoi with his redemption in the field. The dangerous Kusal Perera departs on 20 (14).

FOUR! Into the gap and four! Axar lands it short and on the middle, Kusal Perera reads it well, goes deep inside the crease and gets a good bounce on the waist height and picks it over square leg for a boundary.

Flat and quick, outside off on a length, Kusal Perera fails to connect the cut shot and gets beaten.

FOUR! Innovative and effective! Too full and around off, Kusal Perera reverse sweeps it over short third for a boundary.

Tosses it up now does Axar, on off, Kamindu Mendis plays the scoop and gets it to deep fine leg for a single.

Kamindu Mendis walks in with Sri Lanka needing 74 runs off 35 balls.

OUT! BEATEN ALL ENDS UP! Axar Patel to India's rescue! Patel feeds in a quicker one, on a flatter trajectory and gets the ball to slide into the batter on a good length. Pathum Nissanka is totally cramped up for room and tries to create some width by shuffling to the leg side. But fails to get any bat on it and the ball skids past his inside edge to dismantle the furniture. Pathum Nissanka departs after a terrific knock of 79 (48).

PUT DOWN! And it is Ravi Bishnoi who has grassed it out of all the fielders! But, to be fair to him, that was hit with tremendous power. Short and on the body, Pathum Nissanka stands upright and flatly pulls it straight to deep mid-wicket. Ravi Bishnoi misses the ball in the light, slides to his right but drops it. One taken.

Fired in on the pads, on a fullish length, Kusal Perera looks to flick away but fails to connect. The ball ricochets off his front pad and rolls to the leg side. They cross for a leg bye.

Another one, brilliantly bowled from Pandya. Right into the blockhole at the base of the middle stump, Pathum Nissanka manages to jam it near the strip and takes a quick single.

Another dot! A good bumper outside off, Nissanka backs away to the leg side and finds himself too far from the line of the ball. However, he tries to reach at it but misses to slash it away. Clever bowling this from Hardik.

Back of a length, angling on the pads, Pathum Nissanka moves to the off side and looks to flick it away but the ball pings his front pad and lands on the strip.

SIX! In the air and through! Hardik angles it on the leg stump line, Pathum Nissanka moves to the leg side and swipes it aerially over deep mid-wicket. The TV umpire checks whether the ball has landed on the full or bounced inside the fence. After several roll backs, the umpire confirms that it has landed right on the boundary cushion. A six then. What a fantastic start to the over. Nissanka will look to make it a big one for sure.

Length ball again from Axar, on the stump line, Pathum Nissanka uppishly flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over. Sri Lanka are 131/1, needing 83 more runs to win off the last 42 balls. At the same stage, India were 146/2.

Good length, on middle Kusal Perera sweeps it to backward square leg for one.

Good length, quick and on off, Perera hits it to point.

Quick, short and on off, Nissanka cuts it in front of point and sets off for a quick single. Kusal Perera had to put in a full-stretched dive to get home.

FOUR! In the gap and another four! Slightly short in length, on the middle, Pathum Nissanka uses the depth of the crease and pins the pull between the converging long on and deep mid-wicket fielders for a boundary.

FOUR! Boundaries have started to flow once again for Sri Lanka! Short, but not that short in length, on the middle, Pathum Nissanka quickly gets on his knee and uses the pace of the ball, switch hits between short third and point for four.

Misfield! Pandya hurls it on a hard length, outside off, Pathum Nissanka stands tall and cuts it on the bounce to backward point where Axar Patel fumbles to his left and concedes a single, resulting in Nissanka retaining the strike. End of an eventful over. 14 runs off it. Sri Lanka need 94 runs from 48 balls.

FOUR! The runs needed down to double figures now! for Sri Lanka Full and at the pegs, Pathum Nissanka stays rooted and uses his wrists to whip it across and behind square for a boundary. 95 needed now.

Good length outside the off stump. Nissanka throws his hands at it and chops it to the keeper.

A rare error from Suryakumar Yadav allows an extra run for Sri Lanka! Good length, and on middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka moves leg side of the ball. He chips it in the air with no timing, and the ball lands just ahead of SKY at mid off who charges towards the ball moving forward for the catch. However, it falls short ahead of him and he gets a bad bounce, eventually evading him into the deep. Two taken.

Short and on bodyline, Kusal Perera miscues his pull shot towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE! Speared in down the leg side. Wide given.

Drama in the middle! Back of a length, angling on middle and leg, Nissanka tucks it to deep mid-wicket and scampers back for the second. Rinku Singh from deep mid-wicket intercepts the ball and picks it up cleanly, throws it to the bowler's end and scores a direct hit. Riyan Parag stands behind the stumps to collect the ball, but it deflects off the stumps and races away to the vacant deep covers region. 50 up for Pathum Nissanka. Now the third umpire is checking whether it is five runs or six runs. And also checks if the batters crossed when the throw was released by Rinku Singh from the deep. After having several checks, the third umpire concludes that the batters DID NOT cross when the throw was released by Rinku. So, they will get 5 runs and not 6.

A direct hit! The Indian players do not look interested. The replays have rolled in and it shows that Kusal Perera is well in. Now then, what has happened is Rinku Singh scored the direct hit at the bowling end and the ball then deflected away for a boundary. A bit of hold up in play as the third umpire checks whether the batters crossed when Rinku released the throw. If that is the case, then 6 runs will be awarded to Sri Lanka. If not, 5 runs will be added to the total. The third umpire concludes that the batters did not cross when the throw was released and therefore, 5 runs have been awarded to Sri Lanka and not 6.

FOUR! Much-needed boundary for Sri Lanka! One after 12 balls. Bishnoi drops it on a length, and offers width outside off, Kusal Perera frees his arms and hits it through covers for a cracking four. Sri Lanka are still running behind their opponents at this stage and need 108 off the last 9 overs remaining.

Full and outside off, Pathum Nissanka drills it to long off for one.

Leg break, full and outside off, Nissanka goes back for a cut shot but again, finds the point fielder in the way.

Googly, spinning away outside off, Kusal Perera pats it to long off for one.

100 up for Sri Lanka! Flat, quick and in line of the stumps, Pathum Nissanka cuts it to the right of point and hurries for a single.

Bishnoi comes for his third over. Lands it outside off on a length, skids quickly. Pathum Nissanka cuts it straight to backward point.

Off-cutter by Hardik, on a nagging length, on middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka looks to clip it away off his pads but misses. The ball rolls off his pads on the leg side for a leg bye.

Slower one this time by Pandya, on a short of a good length, Kusal Perera heaves it off the bottom half of the bat to wide long on for a single.

Pace on and on a length, Kusal Perera stays low and swipes it wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace. Pathum Nissanka has to run to the danger end but he makes it with ease.

Pandya tucks the batter up for room. On a shortish length, over middle, Pathum Nissanka dabs it in front of point for a single.

Superb effort in the deep! Short and wide by Pandya, Pathum Nissanka cracks the cut and the ball is in the air for a brief period. Gets it well wide of backward point though. Yashasvi Jaiswal in the deep throws himself across the turf to his left and keeps it down to two.

Angling across the batter, on a back of a length, slower as well, Kusal Perera flat bats it back down the deck but the ball gets parried off Hardik's hands and rolls to mid off for one.

SIX! Clean as a whistle! Sri Lanka lose Mendis but still get 14 runs off it. Arshdeep slips in the slower one again but it is not short enough. Pathum Nissanka gets it right where he needs and nails the pull over wide long on for a six.

Arshdeep goes searching for the yorker but it comes as a waist high full toss, on off. Kusal Perera tucks it behind square on the leg side for a single. That was not far away from being called a no ball for height.

The move to bring back Arshdeep Singh has worked for India. Who walks in next to bat now? One Kusal departs and in comes another one. Kusal Perera is in at number 3.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Arshdeep Singh with a nice comeback! The knucke ball does the trick for Arshdeep and India finally have a breakthrough. A fine knock nonetheless by Kusal Mendis and he has given the start Sri Lanka were after. Arshdeep bowls the knuckle ball and bangs it into the deck, over middle. Kusal Mendis attempts the pull again but does not have the pace to work with. Fails to get the desired power behind it and it goes only as far as deep mid-wicket. Spoons a simple catch to Yashasvi Jaiswal in the deep who makes no mistake. The 84-run opening stand has been broken now as Kusal Mendis perishes on 45 (27).

SIX! That has gone many a mile! Arshdeep Singh goes for the bumper with pace on it but fails to get it high enough to trouble the batter. Kusal Mendis gets his weight on the back foot, lifts his front leg and dispatches the pull over deep backward square leg for a six.

Nails the yorker does Arshdeep, on off. Pathum Nissanka clears his front leg and drills it down the ground. Rinku Singh sprints to his right and mops it up. A single taken.

Arshdeep begins his new spell from over the wicket and bowls the slower one first up. On a length, outside off, Pathum Nissanka walks right across his stumps to help it over short fine leg but gets undone by the slowness of the delivery and wears it on the thigh pad.

Will Bishnoi get his third over? Nope, Arshdeep Singh (1-0-9-0) has been called back.

FOUR! Skillfully done! 12 runs off Hardik's first over as Sri Lanka race to 77/0. Pandya goes into the wicket and does not offer much pace, on off, Kusal Mendis arches back and rides with the bounce. Plays the upper cut expertly over short third for a boundary. Not quite the correct choice of delivery from Hardik with short third inside the circle.

Gets the yorker in now, on off, Kusal Mendis gets his bat down in time and squeezes it out with an open bat face to short third.

Pace taken off again by Hardik, on a hard length, Pathum Nissanka hops to work it on the leg side. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and he gets called through for a quick run by Mendis.

Hardik takes pace off and bowls it on a short of a good length, wide on off, Kusal Mendis reaches out and cuts it through covers for one.

Good placement and the running is equally good! This is on a back of a length, angling in, on middle, Kusal Mendis just taps it with soft hands in the vacant mid-wicket region and comes charging back for the second run.

FOUR! Hardik gets welcomed with a boundary. Short and outside off, Kusal Mendis gets the desired width and cuts it over short third for four.

Keeps it flat and short, on off, Pathum Nissanka punches it off the back foot but straight to cover.

Another googly by Bishnoi, fuller in length, Kusal Mendis slogs it through mid-wicket for a single.

Given LBW but successfully overturned by Kusal Mendis! A confident review by Mendis. India's joy is short-lived. Bishnoi pushes it through, on a nagging length, on middle, Kusal Mendis is late to get his bat in the line of the ball and plays all around it. Gets pinged right in front of the stumps and up goes the finger. Kusal Mendis sends it upstairs and succeeds in overturning it. The UltraEdge shows that Mendis has gotten an inside edge.

FOUR! Too straight and these are easy pickings for Kusal Mendis! Bishnoi tries the googly again but the line is down leg, Kusal Mendis rocks on the back foot and gets enough bat on it to get it past short fine leg for a boundary.

Bishnoi slips in the googly, short and down leg, Pathum Nissanka goes on the back foot and pulls it to deep backward square leg for one.

FOUR! Hit with real authority! Bishnoi tosses it up, right in the arc, Pathum Nissanka crouches and thumps it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

FOUR! Just over! Axar bowls it outside off, short in length, Kusal Mendis walks across and fetches the pull. Helps it over the leaping square leg fielder for a boundary. At the end of Powerplay, Sri Lanka are 55/0. At the same stage, India were 74/1.

Axar is mixing it up nicely here. Slows it up this time, on a nagging length, Kusal Mendis dabs it off the back foot to point.

Darted in, short and at the stumps, Pathum Nissanka rocks back and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for one.

Missed out! Slower but the length stays short, Pathum Nissanka cracks the cut but picks out the man at cover-point.

Beaten! Flatter and quicker, a bit of extra bounce, short and on off, Pathum Nissanka is late on the cut and gets beaten on the outside edge.

It nearly went to hand! Axar drops it on a nagging length, a hint of away turn, on middle, Kusal Mendis taps it on the bounce to square leg where the fielder dives in front but the ball drops in front. The batters cross as the ball deflects off the fielder's hand for a single.

Length ball around off stump. Mendis again miscues the slog sweep to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Length ball outside off. Mendis goes for the slog sweep but misses and gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! The umpire has called it a boundary off the bat! Ravi Bishnoi spills it flat and down leg on a length, Kusal Mendis sits for a sweep but misses by a mile. The ball takes a faint edge and beats Rishabh Pant behind the stumps. Races away to the fence.

The call is for two and they get it! Good running. Slightly full and on off, Kusal Mendis works it through covers for a brace.

FOUR! Cut away with perfection! Short and just outside off, Kusal Mendis creates room for himself by backing away, and uses the width to cut it past backward point for a boundary. Excellent placement.

Flat, at off, on a length, Kusal Mendis hurries into the shot and manages it to cut it to point.

Change? Yes, Ravi Bishnoi has been handed the ball now.

SIX! SHOT OF AUTHORITY! Siraj hits the deck hard, short and on middle, Pathum Nissanka detects the length very early, gets in position quickly creating a strong base for a pull shot. He gets his bat underneath the ball and smashes it mercilessly over deep mid-wicket for a six. Good intent from the Lankan openers here.

Sees the batter stepping out again, Siraj bowls a wide yorker outside off, Pathum Nissanka cannot reach to it.

SIX! Up and over! Brilliant shot from Nissanka! Siraj bends his back, digs in a bumper over the middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka charges down, moving to the leg side of the ball, and opening the off side for him. He adjusts his shot and cuts it using the pace of the ball, over deep third for a six.

On a good length at off, Kusal Mendis opens the bat's face and guides it past backward point for a quick single.

Back of a length outside off and angling into the leg stump. Mendis taps it back to Siraj.

Back of a length outside off. Mendis looks to cut but is beaten on the outside edge.

Short and on middle, Kusal Mendis tucks it to long on for one.

In front of the pegs, this is worked away to the leg side by Kusal Mendis and he is already halfway to cross for a single but finds himself stranded in the middle as his partner Pathum Nissanka is not interested in the run and keeps watching the ball and not his partner. Rishabh Pant from behind the pegs shouts to throw at his end. Axar Patel chases the ball quickly to the leg side. Throws it back but Kusal is home by then.

WIDE! Sliding down the leg side on a fullish length, Kusal Mendis moves to the off side, sits down to sweep it away but misses. Pant collects the ball and whips off the bail in a flash. The umpire stretches his arm and signals a wide. Axar Patel is shocked as it was very close to the leg stump and might have also brushed the thigh pad a bit.

Slower through the air, at off, Pathum Nissanka drills it to long on for one.

FOUR! Swept away! Full and on off, Pathum Nissanka shuffles to the off side and sweeps it past square leg for four more.

Slow and dragged length, on middle, Mendis tucks it around the corner for a single at mid-wicket.

FOUR! Nice shot! Axar starts with a shorter one, on the middle, Kusal Mendis uses the depth of the crease, rocks back and pulls it past mid on beating Hardik Pandya to his right for a boundary. Rinku Singh from deep mid-wicket again does hard yards but the ball wins the race.

Time for early spin as Axar Patel comes into the attack.

Short and on the middle, Pathum Nissanka pulls it through mid on and mid-wicket for a couple of more runs.

Full angling into the off stump. Nissanka drives it to sweeper cover for a single. The throw comes at the striker's end and Pant misses to collect. The ball deflects off the pegs and trickles to the leg side. They get an overthrow as Arshdeep Singh backs it up.

An appeal for LBW but 'Not Out' says the umpire. Length-delivery angling on the middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka is cramped up for room and the ball straps on the front pad. Suryakumar Yadav and Siraj have a chat with Pant and eventually, they abort to go upstairs. Testing times for Nissanka. And there's the Ball Tracking that shows it is going over the middle and leg.

A good stroke but can't pierce the gap once again! Good length, on off, Pathum Nissanka smashes it hard but finds Suryakumar Yadav who dives towards the ball and stops it cleanly at short cover.

Straight and on a hard length, over off, Pathum Nissanka watches it closely and tickles it to the cover fielder.

Siraj starts with a fuller one, on off, Pathum Nissanka puts his front foot ahead and eases it to cover.

Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Mohammed Siraj with a slip and gully in place. As per Russel Arnold on air, this will be a record chase if Sri Lanka pull it off. Sri Lanka's current highest chase in T20Is is 194. It came in 2018 against Bangladesh in Mirpur.

A peach to end the first over. Tails it into the batter, and the ball moves away with the angle after pitching, full and around off, Kusal Mendis has no idea whatsoever and he gets beaten all ends up. 9 runs from the first over!

Length-delivery around off, Pathum Nissanka pats it off the inner half of the willow to the off side, just near the strip and takes a quick single. Good running.

FOUR! Nicely done! Short, but not that short around off, Pathum Nissanka hops on the back foot and guides the ball with a deft touch towards deep backward point. Rinku Singh covers a lot of ground from deep cover, puts in a slide but the ball evades him into the fence for a boundary.

FOUR! First runs for Pathum Nissanka and Sri Lanka are underway in the chase. Overpitched outside off, Pathum Nissanka gets it right in his arc and caresses it through extra covers for a boundary.

Back of a length, across off, Pathum Nissanka is on the back foot and cuts it but finds point midway.

Arshdeep charges in from over the stumps, hurls it with a lateral movement into the batter. Pathum Nissanka is squared up and wears it on the pads. A huge cry for LBW from Arshdeep Singh but the umpire is unmoved. Clearly tailing down the leg side. Good start though for Arshdeep Singh.

SIX! Axar ends with a maximum! Into the slot by Asitha around off, Axar Patel gets in position quickly, balances himself nicely, clears his front leg and tonks it downtown for a biggie. India finish at 213/7.

A slower back-of-a-length delivery, angling across outside off. Arshdeep gets an inside edge down to fine leg for a single.

Arshdeep Singh comes out to bat. A wicket and three runs off the first balls of the last over. Can Asitha Fernando close out the innings well?

OUT! PLAYED ON! Asitha Fernando from over the wickets, delivers a deceptive slower one which comes off as a knuckle ball, Rinku Singh sits down attempting to play that big heave across the line. But he is very early into his shot and swings down his bat before the ball arrives at him, and ends up inside edging it into the stumps. Finally, a wicket for Asitha Fernando after somewhat an ordinary day in the field.

In the air...lands just ahead of sprinting Dasun Shanaka. Slower one, at off, Axar mistimes it up and high in the air over covers. The ball lands behind cover-point. Dasun Shanaka runs forward and gets double-minded about whether to go for the catch, but eventually overruns the ball. It trickles behind him. Shanaka turns around and chases the ball before the ropes. The batters run three in the meantime he throws it back to the keeper.

Dot number two! Pace on, full and at off, at 139 kph, Axar Patel tries to squeeze it out but hits it off the thickish inner half of the bat, straight to the bowler.

Starts off with a slower one, length ball, outside off, Axar Patel shuffles to the off side but gets beaten all ends up. A dot to start the final over.

Uh oh, Sri Lanka have been penalised for slow over rate. They needed to start the last over by 8.40 pm local time but they are four minutes over. As a result, they will be allowed only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle for the last over. It will be Asitha Fernando to bowl it. He has had a tough evening in the field and with the ball too, going for 37 runs from his 3 overs. Can he redeem himself here?

Full, angling across off, Axar pushes it through covers for a single.

WIDE! Down the leg side. Axar leaves. Wide called.

Axar Patel comes in at number 8.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Matheesha Pathirana gets his fourth wicket! What a sensational spell of bowling this has been from him. Pace on, an attempted yorker, attacking the off stumps, Rishabh Pant looks to hoist it over the leg side, across the line but misses out big time. The ball sneaks past his edge and disturbs the off-pole. Pant departs one shy from his half-century.

FOUR! Everything is flying at the moment, including Pant's willow! A yorker on the leg stump line, Rishabh Pant loses the grip off his bat as he swings it way too hard. Gets an inside edge and the ball bullets past the deep fine region.

FOUR! WOW! WHAT A SHOT! Length, on the middle and leg, Rishabh Pant shuffles across off, picks it up over short fine for a boundary.

Full and outside off at 150 kph. Rinku squeezes it out to deep third man for a single.

Who comes out now? Rinku Singh? Yes, he walks in with 11 legal balls left.

OUT! LBW! A loud shout for LBW and up goes the finger! Pathirana is on a roll here. He delivers another vicious yorker with a searing pace, slightly tailing into the leg stump line, Riyan Parag stays rooted in the crease and looks to hoick it over the in-field but is months late to bring his bat down. It pings his front pad and looks pretty much plumb. Riyan Parag chats with Pant for going upstairs but eventually aborts and walks away. Third wicket for Matheesha Pathirana.

Matheesha Pathirana (3-0-29-2) to bowl out now.

On a fullish length, on off, Riyan Parag lofts it on the bounce to long off and retains the strike with a single.

Full and straight at the stumps. Parag digs it back to the bowler.

A low full toss outside off. Pant drills it to long on for a single.

FOUR! Hit with brute force and beats the fielder! Dragged length, at off, Rishabh Pant transfers the weight on back foot and spanks it down towards the right of long on. Dasun Shanaka chases it but the ball has enough wheels to go through.

Full outside off. Parag clears his front leg and drives it uppishly to cover for a single.

FOUR! Parag gets his first one! A full toss, on middle, Riyan Parag employs the switch hit and gets it over backward point for four.

Full ball, outside off. Pant swings himself off his feet but doesn't connect.

FOUR! Pant is having a very dangerous stay at the moment! Full, outside off, Rishabh Pant lofts it off the bottom hand, with no real footwork. The ball goes flat towards the fielder at deep extra cover. The ball lands just ahead of that fielder who bends low for the catch and eventually deflects off his body into the fence. This is the highest score for India on Sri Lankan soil in T20Is now.

Parag is off the mark straightaway! Length, on off, Parag hops on the bounce and taps it to cover-point for a single.

Riyan Parag walks out to bat now with 21 legal balls left in the innings.

OUT! YOU MISS I HIT, SAYS PATHIRANA! Second wicket for him. Matheesha Pathirana spears in a toe-crushing yorker on the leg stump line, breathing fire at 151 kph, Hardik Pandya moves to the leg side to open the off side for him, clears his front foot again to go big but gets undone by the pace and is a bit late to bring his bat down to connect. The ball ricochets off his back pad and rattles the furniture. A Matheesha Pathirana special yorker does the trick. Hardik Pandya departs.

FOUR! There comes the strong bottom hand in play! Pace on goes Pathirana this time, misses the yorker just by a margin, on the middle, Hardik Pandya clears his front leg and spanks it down the ground for a cracking boundary.

Pathirana is back for his third over. He delivers a slower one, outside off, on a length, Hardik Pandya gets totally deceived by it, swings and misses. The ball stays dramatically low and reaches the keeper on a couple of bounces.

Length-delivery, outside off, Rishabh Pant reaches for it, slashes it to deep extra cover. Wanindu Hasaranga patrolling the deep cover-point region, sprints to his left, puts in a dive and intercepts the ball just before the ropes. Saves two for his team.

FOUR! Another full toss and gets the treatment! Full toss, outside off, Rishabh Pant swings hard and slices it through deep backward point for a boundary.

SIX! Thank you very much, says Pant!  Asitha Fernando slips in a knee-length full toss this time, Rishabh Pant is all in readiness, picks it up and deposits it a long way behind deep mid-wicket for a six. A boundary after 14 balls for India.

Knuckle ball, slanting across off. Rishabh Pant swings everything at it. Doesn't connect. Beaten by the lack of pace there.

Another dot! Fernando drags his length, around off, Rishabh Pant swings his bat hard again but miscues back to the bowler. He collects the ball on his followthrough.

Stays over the stumps, delivers a pin-point wide yorker this time around, Pant looks to shovel it out to the off side but fails to connect.

WIDE! Asitha delivers on a nagging length, takes the pace off, across the guideline. Rishabh Pant swooshes wildly at it. Misses. Wide given.

Change. Two overs for Pathirana then. Asitha Fernando (2-0-24-0) is back.

Just a single off Hasaranga's last ball of the spell! Gives the ball air, full and on middle, Rishabh Pant knocks it with a straight bat to long on for a run. Hasaranga ends with figures of 4-0-28-1. Good couple of quiet overs for Sri Lanka, 13 runs off the last 12 balls.

On the off-stump line, on a nagging length, Hardik Pandya dabs it with an open bat face to the right of backward point for one.

At the stumps and a bit fuller, Rishabh Pant turns it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Good placement! Flatter and shorter, on off, Rishabh Pant gets on the back foot and nudges it in the vacant mid-wicket region for a couple of runs.

In the air...but safe! Wanindu Hasaranga tosses it up and dangles the carrot. Full and on middle, Hardik Pandya takes the risk of slogging it against the turn. Gets a top edge but luckily for him, the ball falls right in between the two fielders converging from wide long off and extra cover. A single taken.

Almost chipped it back! Hasaranga bowls it slower through the air and that results in him getting the turn on the googly and a bit of extra bounce too. Hardik Pandya looks to push it down the ground and knocks it on the bounce to the bowler as Wanindu Hasaranga dives in front.

A relatively quiet over amid the carnage. Just 7 runs and a massive wicket of SKY. That's Matheesha Pathirana for you. Also, a change in bowling, Wanindu Hasaranga (3-0-22-1) comes back for his final over.

Pathirana takes pace off and goes into the wicket, outside off, Hardik Pandya hops with the bounce and glides it down to deep third for a single. End of a successful over for Matheesha Pathirana and Sri Lanka.

Attacks the stumps, on a short of a length, Hardik Pandya blocks it back to the bowler.

In the channel on off, on a good length, Hardik Pandya leans on it and times the drive to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs to open his account.

Play and a miss! Pathirana dishes out a full delivery, outside off, Hardik Pandya goes for the drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Who walks in next to bat? Hardik Pandya walks out to bat at number 5.

PLUMB IN FRONT! Or is it? Suryakumar Yadav walks up to Rishabh Pant and with one second left on the timer, he takes the review. This looks like a review more in hope than anything else as SKY missed a straight delivery, playing across the line. Pathirana hurls it at 149 kph, a hint of tail in, on middle, Suryakumar Yadav hangs on the back foot and goes for a swipe across the line. Gets beaten for pace as the ball zips past the inside edge. Gets rapped on the front pad and up goes the finger. No bat is involved on UltraEdge and it is three reds on Ball Tracking. A fine knock nonetheless by the newly appointed Indian captain. Matheesha Pathirana gives Sri Lanka a much-needed breakthrough and they will hope to build on this scalp as they look to finish strongly.

FOUR! Absolutely thumped! 150 comes up for India! Pathirana starts off on a full length, outside off, Suryakumar Yadav stands deep in his crease and presents a high elbow to drill it to the right of mid off for a boundary.

Full and at the stumps by Theekshana, Suryakumar Yadav wrists it to deep mid-wicket and keeps the strike with a single.

Into the wicket from around the wicket, on a nagging length, tucked through square leg for a single by Pant.

Slower by Theekshana and he gets a bit of away turn, Rishabh Pant dabs it off the back foot to point.

DROPPED by Asitha Fernando and to make matters worse, he ends up conceding a boundary. This is bowled with a flatter trajectory by Theekshana, on middle, Rishabh Pant crouches to play the pick-up shot and has no intention of keeping it along the ground. A risky shot with deep backward square leg in place. Does not get enough bat on it to clear the fence. Asitha Fernando in the deep runs to his left and gets there but fails to cling on. The ball deflects off his hands and rolls away for a boundary. Not much going Sri Lanka's way here.

Looped up by Theekshana, on middle and leg, flicked past square leg for a single by Suryakumar Yadav.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR SKY! The Indian skipper is keeping the momentum going for his side. 50 off 22 balls, the second fastest fifty for Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is. Maheesh Theekshana bowls it flat and short, on middle, Suryakumar Yadav hangs on the back foot and wrists it to the right of long on. Splits the gap there and hits it right between deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary.

Will Hasaranga get his third over? Nope, his spin mate, Maheesh Theekshana (2-0-22-0) is back into the attack.

Pathirana takes pace off and bowls it on a back of a length, outside off, Suryakumar Yadav chops it down in front of backward point for a single. An expensive start by Pathirana, 13 runs off his first over.

Good effort in the deep this time by Pathum Nissanka! Pathirana lands it on a back of a length, wide on off. Suryakumar Yadav reaches out and slaps it past backward point. Pathum Nissanka is quick across the turf in the deep and dives to his left. Saves a couple of runs for his side.

WIDE! A yorker gone wrong by Pathirana. Sprays it down leg for a wide.

SIX! Suryakumar Yadav isn't going to miss out for the second consecutive time! A tough shot but the Indian skipper made it look so easy. Pathirana bashes the hard length, outside off. Suryakumar Yadav stays deep in the crease and fetches it from outside off. Brings his wrists into the play and plays the pick-up shot to get it over deep backward square leg for a six.

WIDE! Suryakumar Yadav will feel that he missed out there! Pathirana bangs it into the deck but the line is down leg. Suryakumar Yadav gets inside the line and looks to help the pull away but misses.

Short and wide on off, Rishabh Pant frees his arms and cuts it to deep point for a single. With this run, the 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

So nearly sneaked through! At 140 kph, angling in, on a back of a length, on middle and leg, Suryakumar Yadav gets rushed as he looks to keep it out. Gets an inside edge that rolls behind and the batters cross over.

Pathirana begins on a hard length, on off, Suryakumar Yadav stands tall and stabs it down the deck on the off side.

Change. And there he is! The local boy, Matheesha Pathirana has now been introduced into the attack. He gets a huge cheer from the crowd as well. He replaces Kamindu Mendis.

This is again on a fullish length, on middle and leg, Suryakumar Yadav sweeps it all along the ground to deep backward square leg for a single.

FOUR! Swept again, four again! Pathum Nissanka should have done better there though. Hasaranga keeps it full and at the stumps, Suryakumar Yadav gets into the position quickly and sweeps it in front of square this time. Pathum Nissanka at deep mid-wicket overruns to his right and lets the ball go past him for a boundary.

FOUR! A good effort by Dilshan Madushanka but it ultimately goes in vain! Hasaranga fires it in, on a fullish length, on the pads, Suryakumar Yadav sweeps it fine to the right of deep backward square leg where Dilshan Madushanka puts in the dive but as his elbow hits the turf, the ball pops out of his grasp and trickles away. Madushanka gets back on his feet and puts in another dive but fails to prevent the boundary.

Hasaranga bowls it quicker and shorter, turning in, on off, Rishabh Pant stays leg side of the ball and cuts it past point for a single.

A confident shout for LBW by Wanindu Hasaranga but the umpire turns it down! Hasaranaga is pretty convinced but the ball seemed to have pitched outside leg. Charith Asalanka has a word with the bowler and takes the review. Remember, Sri Lanka have already lost a review. Hasaranga comes from over the wicket and dishes out the googly, full and on off, Rishabh Pant reaches out in front to play the sweep but gets beaten in the flight and misses. The ball hits him on the crouched back leg. UltraEdge shows no bat. 'Waiting for Ball Tracking', says the third umpire. As expected, the ball has clearly pitched outside leg. Sri Lanka have now lost all their reviews.

Hasaranga strays on the pads, on a fullish length, Suryakumar Yadav sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a single.

A four in the first ball, and then five singles for Kamindu Mendis in his first over. Around the wicket, on a good length, on middle, Suryakumar Yadav goes back and across, whips it to mid-wicket for a single to retain the strike. Halfway in the first inning, India at Nelson - 111/2.

Overpitched at the stumps, Rishabh Pant skips down the track and hits it straight to long on for one.

Round the wicket again. Full, on the off and middle channel, Suryakumar Yadav drives it along the ground to long off for one.

Changes his angle now for Pant and bowls the off break. Over the stumps, full and in front of the stumps, Rishabh Pant puts his front leg ahead and drills it to long on for one.

Flat, and on the stumps, Suryakumar Yadav tucks it to widish long on for a single.

FOUR! Suryakumar Yadav welcomes Kamindu with a boundary! 'Round the wickets, right underneath the bat, on off, Suryakumar Yadav cashes in, lofts it inside out over cover for a boundary.

Kamindu Mendis comes into the attack now. In case you were not aware, Kamindu is an ambidextrous spinner with the ability to bowl off-spin and left-arm spin.

Slower through the air, drifting on the middle and leg, Suryakumar Yadav strides out and sweeps it to deep square leg for one.

Full and outside the line of the leg stump. Pant is down on one knee and sweeps it to the left of short fine for one.

100 up for India! Full outside the off stump. Yadav gets down on one knee and sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a run.

A direct hit would have made things interesting! Another googly, around off, Pant again plays off the outside edge. The ball rolls to the cover-point region. Pant quickly calls for a single and has to hurry as the fielder there is quick to pick and throw. Pant puts in a timely dive and the fielder has a shy at the runner's end. A risky single.

Full, wrong'un, on off, Rishabh Pant closes the bat's face and outside edges it to the off side.

Googly, spinning away from off, Rishabh Pant gets beaten all ends up on that one.

FOUR! A chance, put down and goes into the fence! Hands on head by Dilshan Madushanka. Takes all the pace off again, pitches it on the middle, and on a length. Suryakumar Yadav accesses his productive area again by scooping it in the air towards deep fine. The fielder stationed at the mentioned position bends low but the ball bounces in front of him and evades into the boundary.

FOUR! The skipper on the charge now! A couple of bounces and four! Slower in pace, on a length, at the pegs, Suryakumar Yadav knows that short fine leg is inside the ring. He anticipates the length to perfection, moves inside the line of the ball and laps it over short fine for a boundary.

SIX! That's the typical Suryakumar Yadav pick-up shot! Dilshan Madushanka delivers it on a fractionally fuller length, at the leg stump line, Suryakumar Yadav slightly shuffles to the off side to create room for himself. Manufactures the pick-up flick shot, gets it right from the middle of the willow and deposits it behind deep backward square leg for a biggie. That flew off his bat.

Length, outside off, Pant works it to deep cover for one.

A loud cry for LBW from Madushanka right after delivering but 'No' says the umpire. On a length, on the stumps, Rishabh Pant gets cramped up for room trying to nudge it across the line and wears it on the front pad. It was clearly going over the off-pole in real-time.

Shade around off, on a length, Pant tucks it on the front foot to long on for a single.

Quick, on a length, at off, SKY plays it off the back foot to the leg side and takes a single.

EDGED AND FOUR! Tossed up, full and turning away from off, on a fullish length, Suryakumar Yadav lunges ahead but plays inside the line of the ball. It takes the genuine outside edge of the willow and bullets past short third for a boundary.

Slower and on the middle, Rishabh Pant tucks it around the corner for a quick single.

Googly on a length turning into the pads. SKY rocks back and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full on the middle stump. Pant nudges it through backward square leg for one.

Rishabh Pant is in at number 4.

OUT! STUMPED! Hasaranga comes, and Hasaranga strikes! Two wickets in two balls for Sri Lanka. Starts off from over the stumps, delivers a flatter wrong'un straightaway, on off and it turns degrees away with the bounce off the deck. Yashasvi Jaiswal is drawn forward but he doesn't read the googly coming off Hasaranga's hands and plays inside the line of the ball to push it away. Misses out on the outside edge. Kusal Mendis behind the stumps, collects the ball cleanly, and whips off the bails in a flash. The TV umpire wants to check whether Jaiswal's back leg is in time or not. Side-on replay comes up and confirms that Jaiswal got off balance trying to drag his foot back inside the popping crease and it was marginally outside when the stumps were broken. A double blow to India and Sri Lankans are delighted.

Has Wanindu Hasaranga struck with his first delivery? Sri Lanka are celebrating and Yashasvi Jaiswal has started to walk off. Yes, he is a goner. The replays show that Jaiswal had dragged his foot out and Kusal Mendis was quick to do the rest.

The newly appointed Indian skipper, Suryakumar Yadav walks out to bat now.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Brilliant effort by Asitha Fernando and finally, Sri Lanka get a breakthrough. At first, just for a moment, it felt like Fernando gave it away for the converging fielder to catch it but eventually went for it. Dilshan Madushanka bowls it full and takes pace off slightly by rolling his fingers on the leather, and lands it outside off. Shubman Gill gets over-ambitious as he finds the length in his arc and swooshes his bat, but he tries to hit it too hard and loses his shape. Hence, slices it up in the night sky with no real timing. The ball balloons up in the air for a fair bit of time. Asitha Fernando running to his left from mid on, eventually after a casual approach, manages to take the catch.

SIX! Gill takes the aerial route this time and gets the result! Short again from Madushanka, on the middle, Shubman Gill waits for the ball to arrive, flat bats at it and pulls it behind cow corner for a six. With one ball left in the Powerplay, India are 74/0. As per Roshan Abeysinghe on air, this is now India's highest Powerplay score this year.

Slower bumper, on the chest level, Shubman Gill pulls it along the ground to mid on.

FOUR! Two in two! In the slot, angling on the leg stump, Shubman Gill stands tall, picks the ball cleanly and flicks it over the inner ring for a boundary at deep mid-wicket.

FOUR! SHOT! Madushanka lands it in front of the pegs, on a fractionally full length, Shubman Gill is in complete control, goes back initially, lifts the ball with a straight bat and gets a boundary in the V at widish long off.

Slants it into the batter on a short of a good length, Yashasvi Jaiswal mistimes his pull to the deep mid-wicket region for a single.

Change? Yup, Dilshan Madushanka comes back into the attack now. The left-arm seamer went for 13 runs in his first over.

Theekshana keeps it full and straight, at the stumps, Yashasvi Jaiswal squeezes it out wide of mid off and retains the strike. At the end of 5 overs, India are 59/0.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Theekshana tries to york the batter but misses his mark slightly. Yashasvi Jaiswal gets his front pad out of the way and drills it back past the bowler. Hits it to the left of mid off and the long on fielder cannot get there.

Right in the blockhole, on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal jams it out to cover.

Fuller and quicker by Theekshana, on middle, Shubman Gill uses his feet and squeezes it out to the left of mid off where the fielder makes a sliding stop. A single taken.

On a flatter trajectory and on middle and leg, on a nagging length, Yashasvi Jaiswal turns it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Angling into the pads, full in length, flicked off the front foot by Shubman Gill for a single.

SIX! Picked the bones out of that! What a way to bring up the 50-run stand! A hit-me delivery by Asitha Fernando, not short enough, on off. Yashasvi Jaiswal creates a solid base for himself on the back foot and pumps it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Fernando is lucky to get away with it! With a short fine leg in place, Fernando strays on the pads, on a short of a good length, Yashasvi Jaiswal glances it off his pads but picks out the fielder at short fine leg.

Good running! Honing in at the stumps, on a short of a good length, Shubman Gill rides the bounce and taps it with soft hands in front of mid on for a quick single.

FOUR! Pulled away nicely! Fernando tries the bumper but the ball is not short enough to trouble the batter. Shubman Gill stands tall and rolls his wrists nicely on the ball to pull it through backward square leg for four more runs.

Pace on now by Fernando, on a hard length, on off, Shubman Gill gets on his toes and knocks it with a straight bat to mid off.

FOUR! As easy as you like! With a short third in place, Asitha Fernando attempts the knuckle ball, on a back of a length, outside off. Shubman Gill just waits for the ball to arrive and glides it with an open bat face to the right of short third for a boundary.

Will we get to see a double change? Nope, Asitha Fernando (1-0-9-0) to continue.

A big, big shout for LBW but the umpire is unmoved! Maheesh Theekshana seems confident and Charith Asalanka takes the review. The impact looked to be outside off though in real-time. Theekshana dishes it out on a fullish length, on off, too full for Yashasvi Jaiswal to play the sweep but he still goes for it. The ball scoots under the bat and pings him on the left boot. There is a spike but it is when the bat hits the turf. UltraEdge confirms that the ball has not made any contact with the ball. Over to Ball Tracking now. The Ball Tracking shows the impact to be in line but the ball is missing the off pole. Sri Lanka lose an early review.

Slanting into the right-hander from over the wicket, short and on middle, Shubman Gill gets on the back foot and pushes it in front of long on for just a single.

Fired into the pads by Theekshana on a fuller length, Yashasvi Jaiswal clips it in front of square on the leg side and gets to the other end.

Theekshana does not give much air again, short and at the stumps, Yashasvi Jaiswal hangs on the back foot and flicks it wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

FOUR! Smart batting! Maheesh Theekshana under pressure straight away. Theekshana bowls it flat and short, on middle. Yashasvi Jaiswal knows that square leg is inside the circle. Gets down on one knee and sweeps it up and over the man there for a boundary.

SIX! No sighters needed for Yashasvi Jaiswal as he greets Maheesh Theekshana with a six! Theekshana slips in the carrom ball from over the wicket, on a length, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal opens his front hip and goes through the line. Hits it over wide long off for a six.

Will Madushanka get the second over? Nope, with barely any movement for the pacers, Asalanka has quickly moved to his trusted spinner. Maheesh Theekshana, playing his 50th T20I replaces Dilshan Madushanka. Theekshana's record in the powerplay has been absolutely tremendous, hence he gets to roll his arm in the third over itself.

Width offered yet again by Fernando, on a short length, Yashasvi Jaiswal frees his arms and cuts it to the right of backward point. Wanindu Hasaranga at deep third runs to his left and cuts it off. A single taken.

FOUR! Width offered and Yashasvi Jaiswal cashes in! Fernando tries to make the ball go across the batter but this is too wide and too short. Yashasvi Jaiswal goes deep in the crease and thumps it through covers for a boundary. 5th four for India in 11 balls.

Nipping back in off the deck, on a back of a length, on middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets tucked up for room and hops to work it to mid-wicket.

Fernando bowls it on a tighter line, on a hard length, on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal rides the bounce nicely and presents a high elbow to push it to mid off.

Beaten! Fernando goes into the wicket and this seems to stick in the surface a bit. Yashasvi Jaiswal throws his hands at the delivery but gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! That could have so easily dragged back onto the stumps! Asitha Fernando starts off on a short of a length, in the channel on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal goes for the pull but gets an inside edge that sneaks past the off stump and catches the keeper wrong-footed as moves to his right. The ball races past his right for a boundary.

Hmm...no swing whatsoever in the first over for Madushanka. Not an ideal start for him and Sri Lanka. Who will bowl the second over? It will be Asitha Fernando to share the attack.

FOUR! Short and punished! An expensive start by Dilshan Madushanka and Sri Lanka. Madushanka misses his mark again and bowls it short and wide outside off. Shubman Gill gets on top of the bounce and slaps it past cover-point for four more runs. India are up and running.

FOUR! Class written all over it! Madushanka drags the length back but ends up offering width on off. Shubman Gill lets the ball come to him and sets himself up on the back foot. Opens the bat face to thread this one between backward point and cover-point for his first boundary.

Madushanka keeps it full while slanting across, Shubman Gill lunges for the drive but can't get it past the man at short extra cover where Avishka Fernando tumbles to his right to make the stop.

Madushanka goes full in search of swing but does not get any. It goes across with the angle. Shubman Gill leans on it and drives it straight to cover.

Much better by Madushanka as this is on a good length, honing at the stumps, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets behind the line of the ball and tucks it wide of mid-wicket to rotate the strike.

FOUR! Picked up beautifully by Yashasvi Jaiswal and he is on his way! Dilshan Madushanka steams in from over the wicket and bangs it into the deck, around leg. Yashasvi Jaiswal gets inside the line early and pulls it to the right of short fine leg for a boundary.

Done with the pre-match formalities, and it is now time for this subcontinental rivalry to begin. It is a full house at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy with decently breezy conditions out there. The Sri Lankan team is in a last-minute huddle before scattering out to the field. The two umpires Raveendra Wimalasiri and Ruchira Palliyaguruge walk out to the middle. Out walk the two Indian openers now. A typical left-hand right-hand combo - Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka, the left-arm seamer will get the proceedings underway with the new ball. And, here we go...

Well then, we are just a few minutes away from the action in the 1st T20I to commence at Pallekele. But first, two sets of players are lined up for the mandatory ritual - the national anthems. It will be the national anthem of India, followed by that of the Sri Lankan anthem.

India (Playing XI) - Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.

The captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav says that he is not too bothered about the toss result. Says that they have had a couple of practice sessions and the wicket looks good. Tells that despite the change in leadership, the brand of cricket will remain the same. States that his relationship with Gautam Gambhir is very special. Feels that the World Cup is history now and this is a new challenge for which he is very excited. Informs that Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Khaleel Ahmed and Washington Sundar are the ones to miss out.

Charith Asalanka, the skipper of Sri Lanka says it looks like a good surface. Says they are going with 6 batters and 5 regular bowlers. On being asked about the thought process about the selection, he says he wanted to give them equal chances. Expects more wins than in the recent past and ends by saying he wants to make the team confident.

TOSS - The coin goes up and it lands in the favour of Charith Asalanka. Sri Lanka have opted to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Saba Karim and Farveez Maharoof are inspecting the deck. Saba says a cool breeze is blowing across the ground and reckons the temperature will go down as well. Says it is a hard surface and the cracks are visible. Maharoof joins Saba and says that three Lanka Premier League games were played here and it was much different. He adds it might be slower once the ball loses its shape. Karim ends up by saying there will be runs as well.

Unlike Sri Lanka, this will be India's second assignment after the T20 World Cup. A second-string squad travelled to Zimbabwe where they registered a series win with a 4-1 scoreline. The new chapter for India begins in earnest with this series, marking the first assignment for Gautam Gambhir as the Indian head coach. With the retirement of Rohit Sharma, the selectors have chosen Suryakumar Yadav to lead India's T20 cricket into the future. With both teams in transition and eager to prove themselves, this series promises to be exciting and closely contested. Stick around for the toss and teams.

After their T20 World Cup debacle, where they exited in the group stage, Sri Lanka are hoping to turn over a new leaf. In a sort of knee-jerk reaction, Chris Silverwood resigned from his position as head coach, with Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya taking over in an interim capacity. There is a change in leadership as well, with Charith Asalanka taking over the captaincy reins from Wanindu Hasaranga. The hosts are coming off a challenging period but are eager to make a fresh start.

Two teams. Two new captains. Two new head coaches, one full-time and the other interim. This series has all the feels of the start of a new era, and it all kicks off right here, right now, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. With that, we welcome you to our coverage of the first of three T20Is in this series.

From 2020 to 2024, there hasn't been a year where India and Sri Lanka haven't locked horns in a bilateral series, but who's complaining? Over the years, these two Asian nations always put on a show whenever they met, creating unforgettable memories for fans to savour. After Sri Lanka paid a visit last year, it is now India's turn to visit the island nation.

... MATCH DAY ...

Following the successful conclusion of the Lanka Premier League's fifth edition, the Lankan shores are prepared to welcome the reigning champions of the T20 format. The upcoming limited-overs series will feature the host nation Sri Lanka facing off against India. The series will commence with three T20I matches, followed by an equal number of ODIs. Pallekelle will be the exclusive venue for the T20I series, while it will be the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium of Colombo for the ODIs. India enters this series riding a wave of confidence, fresh from a decisive 4-1 series victory against Zimbabwe on their recent tour. The team, now led by Suryakumar Yadav and coached by the dynamic Gautam Gambhir is poised to showcase what cricketing pundits refer to as India's 'next generation' of talent. But fairly, the Indian squad is experienced enough in the number of matches played by the individuals. Not only India, but Sri Lanka will also make strides in this series under the new leadership of the talented left-handed batsman Charith Asalanka, who has taken over from Wanindu Hasaranga, who obviously remains an inseparable part of the team. Looking at India's squad, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are set to open, with Suryakumar Yadav slotting in at number three. The middle order is packed, featuring Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya leading the charge. As for wicketkeepers, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are in the mix, so it’ll be interesting to see who gets the nod first. Spin options are plentiful given the Sri Lanka conditions friendly for the turner, with Washington Sundar, the impressive Ravi Bishnoi - fresh from his Zimbabwe exploits - and the all-rounder capabilities of Axar Patel. The pace attack, spearheaded by Mohammed Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed, with Pandya as a skilled third option, provides a well-rounded bowling unit suited for various conditions. Sri Lanka, buoyed by their previous T20I success against India at home, fields a squad brimming with potential. The batting lineup features the reliable Pathum Nissanka and the in-form Kusal Mendis, riding high on his Lanka Premier League success. Avishka Fernando adds depth to the top order, while veterans Dinesh Chandimal and captain Dasun Shanaka bring crucial experience. The hosts' bowling attack is equally impressive. Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who caught the selectors' attention with a spectacular showing in the Lanka Premier League, has also been included in the squad The pace trio of Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando, and the fiery Matheesha Pathirana promises to challenge India's batsmen. In the spin department, the seasoned Wanindu Hasaranga pairs with young talent Dunith Wellalage, both capable of contributing with the bat. As India seeks to avenge their 2021 series loss and Sri Lanka aims to dominate on home soil, this series sets the stage for high-stakes, exciting cricket. Also, records assert that Pallekelle has offered a decent batting track with the average first-inning score being 171. Adding another dimension to it, 196 is the highest successful chase at this very venue. So, with a magnified analysis, one can say that it is quite a balanced surface. And with monsoons at the helm, the dew factor will indeed play a huge factor, as it has in the subcontinent. So, folks, this will surely be a crackerjack of a series. Will India's defending champions continue to assert dominance, or do we have Sri Lanka feasting on the home conditions again? Who do you think will have the upper hand?