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India thrashed Sri Lanka in the first T20 International (T20I) at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
Put to bat first, India posted 164/5 on the scoreboard in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to skipper Shikhar Dhawan and Suryakumar Yadav‘s sensational batting display. Although, Team India had a terrible start as they lost the opener, Prithvi Shaw, on a golden duck but two back-to-back crucial partnerships took the visitors out of hot waters.
Dhawan and Sanju Samson (27) added 51 runs for the second wicket before Wanindu Hasaanga sent back Samson. Then, the skipper formed a vital 62-runs partnership with Suryakumar to give India a solid platform to reach a competitive total. While Dhawan scored 46 off 36 balls, Surya smashed 50 from 34 deliveries.
For the home side, Dushmantha Chameera and Hasaranga both picked up a couple of wickets. Chameera bagged two scalps for 24 runs; similarly, Hasaranga took two wickets for 28 runs.
In reply, Sri Lanka could only manage to reach 126 before getting bundled out in 18.3 overs, losing the contest by 38 runs. Charith Asalanka was the highest run-getter for the hosts. He scored 44 off 26 balls with the help of three fours and as many sixes.
For the visitors, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowler. Bhuvi did not allow Sri Lankan batters to settle and displayed remarkable bowling. The Indian vice-captain bagged a four-wicket haul for 22 runs in 3.3 overs.
Apart from Bhuvi, Deepak Chahar picked up a couple of wickets while conceding 24 runs from three overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
India 1-0 up with a convincing win. For SL young Asalanka looked promising. Surya Kumar Yadav's 50(34) was a top knock on this wicket. Chahal and Bhuvi were wonderful with the ball. #SLvsIND pic.twitter.com/iz5bIhGNJ3
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 25, 2021
#TeamIndia win the 1st #SLvIND T20I by 38 runs 💪
We go 1-0 in the series 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9FfFbx2TTZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 25, 2021
That was a good game. India were tested, put under pressure but they came out trumps. @SDhawan25 @surya_14kumar @BhuviOfficial @deepak_chahar9 and @yuzi_chahal all excellent. Complete team performance👏🏻🇮🇳 #SLvsIND pic.twitter.com/EixnvQ4eaV
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 25, 2021
As expected India takes 1-0 lead in T20 series but win by such a huge margin by 38 runs was not expecting. Well played team India! #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/KINf9rn6nW
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) July 25, 2021
India won the 1st T20I by 38 runs and take 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/7zw4gjcp3I
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) July 25, 2021
India bowl out Sri Lanka for 126, winning by 38 runs!
They go 1-0 up in the three-match T20I series 👏#SLvIND | https://t.co/LjwbAGMESN pic.twitter.com/CAqwayRdVw
— ICC (@ICC) July 25, 2021
Bhuvi picks up a 4-fer to seal the victory for India!
India lead the T20I series by 1-0 🙌Tune into Sony Six (ENG), Sony Ten 1 (ENG), Sony Ten 3 (HIN), Sony Ten 4 (TAM, TEL) & SonyLIV (https://t.co/QYC4z57UgI) now! 📺#SLvINDOnlyOnSonyTen #HungerToWin #BhuvneshwarKumar pic.twitter.com/K3m9dFu5HZ
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 25, 2021
India should be happy with 164/5 on this pitch. Once again, top batting Surya Kumar Yadav #DoddaMathu #SLvIND
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) July 25, 2021
Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes the first ever Indian pacer with 4+ wicket hauls on multiple occasions in T20I cricket.
5/24 vs SA at Johannesburg, 2018
4/22 vs SL at RPS Colombo, today#SLvIND— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) July 25, 2021
Sri Lanka's average total in their last 15 T20I Innings is 132. They have reached 150 only on three occasions in 15 inns. #SLvsInd
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 25, 2021
Wow! India wins by 38 runs. Well played. Very well played. People questioned if the score of 164 was defendable and you created some magic. Great start to the T20Is! Ripper bowling effort especially in the last five overs. Congratulations! #SLvIND
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) July 25, 2021
India won the opening T20I by 38 runs as SL were bowled out for 126. Bhuvi Kumar taking 4-22 #SLvIND
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) July 25, 2021
Deepak Chahar – The banker of this side.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) July 25, 2021
A brilliant display by our bowlers ensure we start the series on a winning note! 👏🏻👏🏻
We’re already looking ahead to the 2nd T20I. 🤩#PlayBold #TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/QPhMPyFJwp
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) July 25, 2021
🏏✨ COMPREHENSIVE FROM INDIA! @deepak_chahar9 and @BhuviOfficial's wicket-taking spells, in tandem, have helped us defend this total comfortably, to take the lead in the series!
📷 Getty • #INDvSL #SLvIND #shikhardhawan #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/MAnovyGVri
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) July 25, 2021
4 for @BhuviOfficial! 🙌
Bhuvi gets his 3rd and 4th wicket of the game and wraps up the Sri Lankan innings.
🇱🇰: 126 (18.3)#SLvIND #OrangeArmy #OrangeOrNothing
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) July 25, 2021
🇮🇳 steamroll 🇱🇰 as they pick up 6 wickets in 19 balls to take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series 🤩
Who impressed you the most today? 🥰#SLvIND #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/TC1XBYk4Gk
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) July 25, 2021
India win the first T20I against Sri Lanka by 38 runs.
Field day for Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 3.3 overs, 22 runs, 4 wickets.
Suryakumar Yadav's 50 was equally impressive on a day where he didn't look at his fluent best.#SLvIND
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) July 25, 2021
4 wickets for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. All bowlers picked at least a wicket. Yuzi Chahal bowled well. Excellent win for India. Impressive performance from Suryakumar Yadav: has looked in great touch. 1-0 for Team India #SLvsIND
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) July 25, 2021
India beat Sri Lanka by 38 runs in the first T20 and take 1-0 lead in the series, complete bowling performance lead by Bhuvneshwar and Yuzi Chahal. Deepak Chahar took 2 wickets and one wicket by Varun, Krunal, Hardik. #SLvIND
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 25, 2021