The T20 World Champions, Team India are taking on Sri Lanka in the opening T20I of the three-match series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, Kandy. While the Men in Blue are starting a new era with former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir filling in Rahul Dravid’s shoes, it is Suryakumar Yadav, who succeeds T20 World Cup 2024 winning captain, Rohit Sharma after the latter announced retirement from the shortest format of the game.
With this new chapter in Indian cricket, the Suryakumar Yadav & Co. were invited to bat first after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first. Batting first, the visitors posted 213 runs at the loss of seven wickets, with SKY playing a captain’s knock of a 26-ball 58. Apart from him, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 40, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also played a crucial 33-ball 40 knock to help put a competitive total on the board.
During the run chase, the Arshdeep Singh and Jaiswal’s combined efforts help India break the opening stand. Pathum Nissanka too had to return to the pavilion shortly afterwards. But in the 16th over, Ravi Bishnoi, who was reintroduced in the attack suffered a massive blow, forcing the physios to run in and check on the Indian bowler.
The incident took place on the first delivery of the 16th over. Bishnoi attempted a return catch but, in the process, he hit his wrist and went on the ground with the ball hitting him on the face. The young bowler had to undergo a concussion test and after minutes of halt, was deemed fit to resume his over. While he was smashed for two consecutive fours, he finished his over with a wicket of captain Charith Asalanka.