Indian middle-order batting line-up failed once again in the second T-20I held in Pune’s MCA ground. Set to achieve a target of 207 by the Sri Lankan team, Team India could only make 190 / 8 in their allotted 20 overs and thus India lost the match by 16 runs. The three-match T 20 I series now stands at 1 – 1. The third T 20 I to be held in Rajkot on the 07th of January will be the series decider.
The search for the opening pair is still haunting the BCCI. The strike-opener, Kishan, and his partner, Shubman Gill were again unable to provide a good start for Team India. Kishan continued with his inconsistent performance in the shortest version of the game and got out at the score of 02 runs while Gill who lacks cricketing skills got out only on 05 runs. Both the batters got out in the very second over, when the Indian score was – 21 / 2. Then came the inexperienced Rahul Tripathi, who scored only – 05 runs in 05 balls. Indian score was – 21 / 3 in 2. 1 over.
Then came Suryakumar Yadav, who is now getting famous for his irresponsible high-rise shots. Although he made 51 runs but got out cheaply on the delivery of Dilshan Madhushanka. Yadav, now, raised as the vice-captain of the team lacks in taking responsibilities to provide the Indian batting line-up solid foundation and gets out irresponsibly. Skipper Pandya, who raised himself at Number 05 failed again and could score only 12 runs, facing just 12 balls.
Deepak Hooda, who came to replace Pandya followed the footsteps of his captain and departed after making only 09 runs in 12 balls. Indian score was now limping on a total score of 57 / 5 after 9. 1 over. The defeat was staring at Team India when Axar Patel came in the place of Hooda. Patel played a sensible inning with his controlled shots. The partnership between Yadav and Patel contributed 91 runs in a total of 7. 4 overs, when Yadav got – out by the bowling of Madhushanka sending Yadav to the dug-out at the crucial juncture of 148 / 6 in 15. 5 overs.
India still needed 59 runs off 25 balls. Axar tried to play carefully with Shivam Mavi but got out when the Indian score was – 189 / 7 in 19. 3 overs. Shivam Mavi also got out on the last ball of the Indian innings, when the Indian score was – 190 / 8. India lost the match by 16 runs. Barring Axar, SKY, and up to a certain extent, Shivam Mavi, the rest all the Indian batters succumbed to the mediocre bowling – attack of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan captain Shanaka once again impressed with his performance as a batter and a bowler. Playing a captain’s knock, Shanaka scored 56 runs in just 22 balls, with 02 fours and six sixes, and also with the ball when he claimed two important Indian wickets just by giving 04 runs. Other major contributors from the Sri Lankan side were – Nissanka (33), Kusal Mendis (52), and Asalanka (37) in amassing a good Sri Lanka. total of 206 / 6. From the Indian side, Jammu express, Umran Malik, although expensive by giving away 48 runs, claimed three wickets, while Axar got two by giving away 24 runs. Arshdeep Singh sent down as many as 05 no – balls in his spell of 02 overs.
The Rajkot T 20 I match will now be the decider in this three-match series. The match will be played on the Jan – 07th.
