IND vs SL 2024: 3 players who starred and 2 who flopped in the India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I match ft. Suryakumar Yadav & Hardik Pandya
India beat Sri Lanka by 43 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series in Pallekele on Saturday, July 27. Suryakumar Yadav's first game as the Men in Blue's full-time T20I skipper went swimmingly on a personal and collective front, although it wasn't a straightforward victory.
India's top-order batters delivered, but not all of their bowlers and all-rounders had good outings in the series opener. The hosts' opening batters even threatened to take the game away from them at times during the chase.
On that note, here are three players who starred and two who flopped in the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka.
#5 Star - Suryakumar Yadav
![SKY was sensational in Pallekele [Image Courtesy: BCCI on X]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/2a87d-17220958988710-1920.jpg?w=500)
Playing his first game as India's full-time T20I skipper, Suryakumar Yadav smashed yet another sensational half-century. It was his second-fastest in the format.
Suryakumar swept the spinners to great effect and was more than happy to play his usual pick-up shots over the square-leg region against pace. He ensured that the momentum granted by India's openers wasn't lost after their dismissals off successive deliveries.
Suryakumar is showing no signs of slowing down.
#4 Flop - Hardik Pandya
Demoted from captaincy, Hardik Pandya might have been disappointed ahead of the first T20I against Sri Lanka. He was disappointed afterward, with both bat and ball letting him down in Pallekele.
Hardik scored just nine runs before being dismissed while playing an ungainly heave across the line. The all-rounder was brought on after the powerplay and bowled his entire quota in the middle overs, with his four overs costing 41 runs.
Poor fielding let Hardik down, but he looked off the pace in both departments.
#3 Star - Yashasvi Jaiswal
Following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal's path towards becoming a regular at the top of the order is simpler. Knocks like the one he played in the series opener against Sri Lanka only reinforce the fact that he's one of the best young batters in the country.
Jaiswal got off the blocks like a train, with the Sri Lankan pacers being hit out of the attack. The left-hander struck five fours and two sixes in the powerplay to put his side ahead of the game early. He was also electric on the field.
#2 Flop - Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi ended his spell with an acceptable economy rate of 9.25 and even picked up a wicket off his last ball. However, the leg-spinner was far from his best and sent down several loose deliveries.
Bishnoi was hit for seven fours, with the Sri Lankan openers finding a way to keep themselves abreast with the asking rate. He didn't have any answers to their innovation and also seemed to be struggling with setting the ideal field.
Bishnoi, who dropped two catches and got a cut on his face for his troubles, will want to bounce back strongly in the remaining games.
#1 Star - Riyan Parag
It may not have had a big impact on the outcome of the game, but Riyan Parag's three-wicket haul towards the end of the Sri Lankan innings could influence the future of Indian cricket appreciably.
The youngster's stint with the ball could've gone in any direction, with Suryakumar Yadav having the guts to take the risk. Parag secured three wickets in just eight balls, one each with an off-spinner, a carrom ball, and a googly. He wrapped things up rapidly, with his first over sealing the deal for the visitors.
Parag will hopefully bowl more often, and in the middle overs, in the coming games.