India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I - 5 Talking Points

After a dominating performance in the first T20I at Cuttack, team India entered the second game of the 3-match series against Sri Lanka with total domination in their mind. They managed to do just that with their openers plundering runs at will. Skipper Rohit Sharma launched an onslaught on the opposition bowlers from where there was no coming back.

While Rohit managed to score his second T20I ton, KL Rahul missed out on scoring his second T20I ton just by a feather’s margin. However, the onslaught by the Indian openers was good enough to take the Indian total well beyond the 250 run mark. With 260 on the board, the series was pretty much sealed by the Indian team.

But, the formalities had to be completed nonetheless. This is what the expectation at the mid-innings break. However, Kusal Perera had other plans. He singlehandedly led the Sri Lankan charge with a powerful 77 off just 37 deliveries. Unfortunately, he found no partners and India ended up winning the game comfortably. India now has an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series.

Here are the 5 Talking points from the India vs Sri Lanka Indore T20I:

1. Rohit, KL plunder runs at will

It was a flat track at display in the Indore T20I. However, having said that, the runs still had to be scored. The Indian openers – KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma – took just a little over 4 overs to get their eyes in. As soon as they got a hang of the conditions and the track’s behavior, they launched an onslaught on the opposition.

Rohit, KL notched up their individual fifties as the opening stand went past the 100 run mark inside the first half of the innings. Three sixes in an over became a regularity as Rohit Sharma went on to plunder his second T20I ton. The duo added 165 runs for the first wicket in just 75 deliveries before Rohit was dismissed on 118.

2. Dhoni promoted to number 3; Mathews goes missing

In surprising turn of events, team India promoted MS Dhoni to bat at number three. This came as a surprise since many expected Shreyas Iyer to be promoted up the order. But, by the look of things, it was evident that Rohit Sharma wanted MS Dhoni to bat at number three. He signaled to the dressing room and to the coach Ravi Shastri to send Dhoni at 3.

Dhoni ended up scoring an unbeaten 28 off 22 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. He failed to get the connections right towards the end though. Another interesting point to note was veteran Sri Lankan player Angelo Mathews walking out of the park. He has been a victim of hamstring injury for a long time now. When Rohit was onsong, Mathews stopped midway through his run up. He subsequently went out of the park.

3. India post record T20I total; KL misses, Rohit hits

Owing to a stellar ton from Rohit Sharma and a fine fifty from KL Rahul, team India posted their highest ever T20I score. Rohit went on to score his second T20I ton. This was the joint fastest ton in the shortest format of the game at the international level – in just 35 deliveries. The opening stand, that lasted for 165 runs, helped India set a firm base for the big win.

While Rohit managed to score his second T20I century, KL Rahul missed out on getting one. KL scored 89 off 49 balls with 5 fours and 8 sixes. Also, MS Dhoni provided the final flourish with his unbeaten 28. Team India posted a mammoth 260/5 in their stipulated 20 overs, surpassing their previous best T20I total of 244 against Windies at Florida.

4. Sri Lanka fight fire with fire; Perera leads the charge

Not much was expected from the Sri Lankan side in the run chase. However, the way the islanders responded in this particular India vs Sri Lanka game, they managed to win over some hearts. Niroshan Dickwella (25) and Upul Tharanga (47) got off to a flying start to add 36 runs for the opening wicket. But the actual knock of steel was played by Kusal Perera.

Perera smashed a quickfire 77 off just 37 deliveries to pose a brief threat to the Indian team in the match. He hit four boundaries and 7 sixes in his knock. When Perera was onsong, the match stood in even balance as the visitors had crossed the 100-run mark at the half way stage.

5. The familiar Sri Lankan collapse; Kuldeep-Chahal rip Lankans apart

One of the key problems for Sri Lanka over the last few seasons has been their inability to see multiple players succeed on the same day in the same department. Even in this game, barring Kusal Perera, no other batsman could muster runs in the match. From being 145/1 to 164/7, all big names of the Sri Lankan lineup had headed back to the pavilion.

This was a familiar Sri Lankan collapse that has been the case throughout the season for them. Also, the men who accounted for their downfall was another familiar sight. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav ran through the middle-order to get India back in the game. While Chahal bagged 4/52, Kuldeep scalped 3/52.