India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I - Who Said What

"It's a tough series for us," quoted Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera.

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Rohit Sharma
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Rohit Sharma celebrates his hundred. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Team India registered yet another emphatic win against Sri Lanka in the second T20I of the 3-match T20I series. After dominating the visitors in the first T20I, the action for India vs Sri Lanka second game moved to Indore. The track looked like a batting beauty and the Indian openers justified the fact to the bits. Team India were asked to bat first in the game, and they ended up scoring their highest ever T20I score.

Riding on Rohit Sharma’s second T20I ton and KL Rahul’s fine 89, the hosts posted a total of 260/5 in their stipulated 20 overs. In the run chase, no Sri Lankan batsman barring Kusal Perera could muster runs at will. Perera hit a brilliant 77 off 37 deliveries and gave a brief scare to the Indian side. However, it was not enough as Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal ran through their batting lineup.

Kuldeep, who returned with figures of 3/52, spoke about how MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma backed him at the time when Perera was going great guns against him. He mentioned that he had the faith in his own abilities. He always knew that it was a matter of picking up one wicket and things could get back on track for him in the game. Here is what he had to say after the India vs Sri Lanka Indore T20I:

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav said: First three overs 45 runs, but I was always thinking about wickets. I knew if I got one, I would probably get the second one. The first over (I bowled) was slow in the air, but the wicket was good to bat on and the ball was coming on nicely. Later on I was bowling wide of the batsman. I realized that I need to bowl it into the wicket. They (Dhoni and Rohit) were backing me and telling to look for the wicket. Small ground with small boundaries, Dhoni and Rohit were telling me to keep away from the batsman and try the variations outside the off-stump. Seven wickets in three overs really changed the game.

Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera:

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera admitted that it has been a tough series for them. He credited the way Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga kept them in the hunt for a brief while. He also confirmed that Mathews has been ruled out of the final T20I.

Thisara Perera said:  It’s a tough series for us. Too big a target to chase. Tharanga and Kusal batted very well, giving us momentum, but others couldn’t execute. Mathews is now out of the series due to his hamstring problem.

India captain and Player of the Match – Rohit Sharma

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma was absolutely phenomenal on the day. Rohit hit a belligerent 118 off just 43 deliveries. His knock was studded with 12 fours and 10 sixes. It was his knock that kept the opposition bowlers at bay. He was adjudged as the Player of the Match for his knock. Commenting on the game, he admitted that the conditions were ideal for batting.

He also said that he had fun at the crease and went on to quote that scoring a double ton is a big ask in T20 cricket. He had special words of mention of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Both Kuldeep and Chahal conceded in excess of 50 runs in their respective spells. But they did not lose heart and helped India claw back in to the game. While Chahal bagged 4 wickets, Kuldeep took 3.

Rohit Sharma said: The stage was set. Good conditions to bat. Was trying to do what I always try to do – hit through the line. It’s something I’ve been working on through the last few months. Went out there and had some fun. That’s too much to ask (going for double hundred). No target here is defendable so we wanted to get as many as possible. KL started very well. He’s in great form. There’s a certain template to my batting. Don’t try to overhit too much. Rely on my timing and hold my shape. Had a lot of faith in the wrist-spinners. They’ve always brought us back into the matches. These two guys never put their head down.

He added: Rather than being too defensive, they’re prepared to flight the ball to take wickets. And they got the result. Kuldeep changed the game completely. I was very happy. Always had the belief that they’re the ones who’ll get us back in the game. It’s always pleasing for a captain when a bowler comes and tells you what he wants to do (talking about Pandya). It’s something he’s been working on. It’s paying dividends on the field. Only thing I said was back yourself. They stuck to their plans and got the result.

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