India clinch T20I series with dominant 7-wicket win over Sri Lanka

India secured a commanding 7-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20I, clinching the three-match series 2-0 with back-to-back wins. The match, held at Pallekele, saw a swift chase by India, who pursued a revised target of 78 runs in 8 overs after a rain delay. The Indian team completed the chase in just 6.3 overs, with significant contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (30 off 15), Suryakumar Yadav (26 off 12), and Hardik Pandya (22* off 9 balls).

This win marks the beginning of the Suryakumar Yadav-Gautam Gambhir era in T20Is with a series triumph over Sri Lanka.

Earlier, Sri Lanka, batting first, finished their innings at 161 for 9, with Axar Patel delivering the final over and claiming two crucial wickets while conceding 8 runs. Opting to bowl first, India effectively restricted the Sri Lankan batsmen to a manageable total. Despite an early setback with the loss of Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka had a strong start through Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera. However, their middle-order collapse, reminiscent of the previous match, led to a significant reduction in their scoring rate. India’s bowlers executed a coordinated effort, taking wickets in clusters to limit the Sri Lankan innings.

Kusal Perera emerged as the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 53 runs, while Pathum Nissanka contributed 32 runs. For India, Ravi Bishnoi was the standout performer with three wickets. Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel each claimed two wickets, demonstrating a well-rounded bowling attack that played a crucial role in restricting Sri Lanka’s total and facilitating India’s comprehensive victory.