India were down even before the start of the game with as many as nine first-choice players missing out due to Covid-19, and Sri Lanka found enough fire in their belly to land a solid punch to knock them down in the second T20I of the series in Colombo.
Chasing a target of 133 runs—a modest target from the outset, but not a pitch that was assisting spinners from the word go, Sri Lankan middle-order batsmen found their nerves strong enough to not throw their wickets away. In the end, Bhuvneshwar Kumar offered a juicy full toss and Chamika Karunaratne deposited the ball over cow corner to put India on the brink.
The tourists were in the game as they squeezed the hosts batting line up on the back of a trio of wrist spinners comprising Kuldeep Yadav, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. All of them found considerable purchase off the surface but only Kuldeep could extract yields in the form of wickets to check Sri Lanka’s ascendency towards the target.
Sri Lanka were not helped a great deal by their top order as they kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. They had their half of the batting group back in the hut before reaching 100 but the duo of Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga kept them in the game.
Minod Bhanuka played a composed innings before getting frustrated and gifting Kuldeep his second wicket but de Silva made sure that he did not have to pay for his dismissal. Karunaratne has made a habit of turning the heat on in the end overs, and the trend continued as a 6-ball 12 powered Sri Lanka past the finish line.
Earlier, India had to field all 11 players they were left with after the Covid-19 crisis in the camp and it opened the window for the quartet of Nitish Rana, Chetan Sakariya, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Devdutt Padikkal. Dhawan backed Gaikwad to partner him at the top of the order followed by Padikkal at the number three position to bring left hand-right combination at the top. The move did work well and the duo put on a 49-run partnership within seven overs to give a perfect platform. India were watchful in their stroke play as they have had to be watchful of the fact that Bhuvneshwar Kumar was to come to bat at the number six position.
They succeeded in achieving their first target by reaching the 16th over just two wickets down, but just when they were eager to put a foot down on the accelerator, wickets started to tumble and India had to scramble to reach 132.
Sri Lanka should be delighted with their triumph in the second T20 to level the series, but India should be disappointed for not being able to push on in the end overs and being poor in fielding.
The third and final T20 of the series will be played today, July 29 at the same venue and both sides will have all to play for in what will be a series decider and massive opportunity for both sides, especially the hosts.