What happened the last time India played a T20I in Pallekele?
Team India embarks on a new journey in the shortest format under the newly appointed skipper Suryakumar Yadav. The three-match T20I series in and against Sri Lanka will also be the first assignment of the new head coach Gautam Gambhir.
India and Sri Lanka have faced each other 29 times in the shortest format. While India have won 19 of the said matches, Sri Lanka have won nine, with one match failing to produce a result.
The three-match T20I series commences today i.e. Saturday (July 27), and all three matches will be played in Pallekele.
Here is a look at what happened the last time team India played a T20I in Pallekele.
India beat Sri Lanka by 39 runs
Team India have played a solitary T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, Kandy, Sri Lanka. The said match was against the hosts and was played almost 12 years ago on August 7, 2012.
Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardena won the toss and elected to field. Shaminda Eranga struck in his first over, dismissing Gautam Gambhir for just six runs.
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane added 74 runs for the second wicket before the latter perished for 21.
Kohli continued his onslaught on the Lankan bowlers and scored a brilliant 68 from just 48 balls, including 11 boundaries and a maximum. He was dismissed in the 17th over of the innings.
Suresh Raina (34* from 25 balls) and skipper MS Dhoni (16* from 14 balls) provided the perfect finish to the innings. India put up a competitive 155 at the loss of three wickets in 20 overs.
Irfan Pathan was at his lethal best in the powerplay overs as he picked up three wickets. The batters he dismissed were Tillakaratne Dilshan (bowled), Upul Tharanga (caught by Raina), and Mahela Jayawardena (leg before wicket). Sri Lanka were reduced to 35 for three in 4.2 overs.
Thereafter, Ashok Dinda got into the act and picked up four wickets (4-19) from three overs. His victims included Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Shaminda Eranga, and Lasith Malinga. Sri Lanka were bundled out for a paltry total of 116 from 18 overs and the visitors won the match by a comfortable margin of 39 runs.
Team India under Gautam Gambir will look to maintain their 100% win record in Pallekele when they take on Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series.