When is Team India's next match in the T20I series against Sri Lanka?
India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets (DLS method) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, July 28 in the second T20I of the three-match series. With the victory, the Men in Blue took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20I series. Bowling first after winning the toss, India held Sri Lanka to 161-9. Chasing a revised target of 78 in eight overs, India got home in 6.3 overs.
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi starred for Team India with the ball, claiming 3-26 in four overs. Pacers Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya as well as left-arm spinner Axar Patel picked up two scalps each. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Perera top-scored with 53 off 34, while opener Pathum Nissanka contributed 32 off 24.
Chasing a DLS target of 78 in eight overs, India lost Sanju Samson for a golden duck to Maheesh Theekshana. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal (30 off 15), skipper Suryakumar Yadav (26 off 12) and Pandya (22* off 9) combined to ensure an emphatic victory for the visitors.
India and Sri Lanka meet in third T20I on July 30
Having clinched the T20I series 2-0, India take on Sri Lanka in the third T20I on Tuesday, July 30. The game will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and will begin at 7 p.m. IST.
While the match is practically a dead rubber, the Men in Blue will look to register a clean sweep.
The visitors also have a chance to try out some players who didn't get an opportunity in the first two matches. Off-spinner Washington Sundar, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed and batter Shivam Dube are yet to get a game.
As for hosts Sri Lanka, they will be keen to avoid a whitewash. They have showed some promise in the first two T20Is, with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera getting among the runs. The middle and lower order, though, is a concern, as the Lankans suffered batting collapses in both games.
Former captain Dasun Shanaka was dismissed without scoring in both T20Is. New skipper Charith Asalanka has also failed to make an impact with the bat.
Speaking about the bowling, Matheesha Pathirana claimed 4-40 in the first T20I, while Wanindu Hasaranga was economical. All the other bowlers, though, went for plenty of runs.
Following the T20I series, India and Sri Lanka play three ODIs at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo from August 2 to August 7.