For all of its volatility, T20 cricket gives you little time to regroup after a bad start. India’s batters achieved new lows when they scored 81/8 in their 20 overs, which is the third lowest total in T20Is. Sri Lanka’s chase in the 15th over went down to the wire, resulting in a seven-wicket victory in the T20 series and a 2-1 series triumph. It was a narrow 1-2 loss in the ODI series.
T20 cricket players know that to improve their chances of winning, they should try to pick up at least three wickets in the powerplay. Once again, because of India having to field just five specialist batters, the host side managed to push the issue and make it happen. led by the consistent Wanindu Hasaranga (4-9), who mixed googlies and leg-spinners for Sri Lanka, India’s batting line-up was easily dispatched, and their power play (4-29) was put to little use.
Winning T20 matches requires a risk-adverse mentality, and India came in intending to get to a secure position as quickly as possible. Instead, they continued to find themselves in dangerous territory each time they let someone go. The match started out with Dushmatha Chameera, the other Sri Lankan spinner, taking out the team leader, Shikhar Dhawan, in the slips for zero.
Once this occurred, the spinners took over. Despite devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad were fantastic in the IPL, both of them lost their wickets on the international stage by failing to read spin. In reality, in getting to a Ramesh Mendis delivery, Padikkal (9) discovered two methods: he was bowled lbw when he swept the ball unsuccessfully. He was dismissed LBW, but if he hadn’t been, he would have been run out. Hasaranga attempted to let Gaikwad play the googly off the front foot, but he bowled it too sharply and got him lbw. Three times throughout the series, Sanju Samson has fallen prey to spin.
As India’s three batsmen failed to reach double-digits, and Kuldeep Yadav, the lone batsman to hit double-digits, ended up with the highest score of 23*, this was a nightmarish batting effort that resulted in their bowlers having little to work with. The only specialist batsman managed just 10 runs in double digits. India’s worst first 10 overs result of 39/5 in T20Is was also achieved in this match.