Not the biggest of totals to chase, but India made it look very easy. Comprehensive win for India and nine consecutive victories at Indore across formats. Virat Kohli won the toss, then his bowlers restricted the Lions to 142/9 with Shardul Thakur taking three. KL Rahul continued his sublime form, and with returning Shikhar Dhawan, laid the foundation -- 71 runs in 9.1 overs. Then, Shreyas Iyer and Kohli showed their range. The skipper even got to his 1000th run as captain and hit the winning runs -- a six. That's all for tonight. The third and final match is scheduled for Friday at Pune. Catch highlights of the Indore match here:
India Innings; Target 143
India's captain Virat Kohli, second right, greets Sri Lankan players after winning the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. India won the match by seven wickets. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
10:10 PM IST: Lahiru Kumara on with his last over. Shreyas Iyer (34 off 26), going for the glory, and is caught at backward square leg. by Dasun Shanaka. Rishabh Pant is the new man. India need six. A single, and the Nataraj Shot from the skipper for a six over fine leg. IND - 144/3 (17.3); Kohli - 30, Pant - 1. India win by seven wickets.
10:06 PM IST: Lasith Malinga on with his last over. Virat Kohli hits the first ball for a four, inside edge to fine leg. A double to deep square leg, then a hook for a six over long leg. Another double, this time deep mid-wicket. A single to deep mid-wicket for fifty-run stand in 33 balls. And also, 1000 T20I runs as captain for Kohli. A single to end the over. 16 runs from the over. IND - 137/2 (17); Iyer - 34, Kohli - 24. India need another 6 from 18. Malinga's figures: 4-0-41-0.
10:01 PM IST: Wanindu Hasaranga returns for his last over. Shreyas Iyer hits two fours, off the second and fifth balls, and a six, off the last ball. 17 runs from the over. IND - 121/2 (16); Iyer - 33, Kohli - 9. India need another 22 from 24. Hasaranga's figures: 4-0-30-2.
9:57 PM IST: Dasun Shanaka on with his last over. A dot to Virat Kohli, then a single to deep square leg. Another single, this time to short fine leg. A single to long-on. A mistimed pull shot for a single from Shreyas Iyer. And another single to end the over. Five of those. IND - 104/2 (5); Iyer - 18, Kohli - 7. India need another 39 from 30. Shanaka's figures: 4-0-26-0.
9:53 PM IST: Lahiru Kumara returns with his third over. A dot then two singles. A dot, the Shreyas Iyer hits straight for a four. Bowler ducks. Brilliant strike. Six runs from the over. IND - 99/2 (14); Iyer - 16, Kohli - 4. India need another 44 from 36.
9:49 PM IST: Lasith Malinga brings himself on. Shreyas Iyer takes a single, then three singles. Malinga almost york Iyer, for a dot. A single to end the over. Five runs from the over. IND - 93/2 (13); Iyer - 11, Kohli - 3. India need another 50 from 42.
Sri Lankan players celebrate the dismissal of India's Shikhar Dhawan, left, during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
9:44 PM IST: Wanindu Hasaranga on with his third over. Shreyas Iyer takes a single, then LBW. Shikhar Dhawan gone (32 off 29). Good review. Virat Kohli is the new man. Three runs from the over. IND - 88/2 (12); Iyer -8, Kohli - 1. India need another 55 from 48.
9:38 PM IST: Dasun Shanaka on with his third over. Three singles, then a dot to Shreyas Iyer. A single, then Shikhar Dhawan pulls the last ball for a four. Eight runs from the over. IND - 85/1 (11); Dhawan - 32, Iyer - 6. India need another 58 from 54.
9:35 PM IST: Wanindu Hasaranga on with his second over. And gets the big wicket of KL Rahul (45 off 32). Premeditated shot from the Indian opener, and is beaten by the googly at good pace. Bowled. Shreyas Iyer, right-handed batsman, joins Shikhar Dhawan. He takes a double, to backward point, to open his account. Four singles, and six runs from the over. IND - 77/1 (10); Dhawan - 26, Iyer - 4. India need another 66 from 60.
India's Shikhar Dhawan bats during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
9:30 PM IST: Dasun Shanaka continues. Shikhar Dhawan takes a double off the first ball. Attempted pull shot, but goes to vacant leg slip. A dot, then a single to square leg. Another single, then Lasith Malinga, at mid-off, let slips one for a four. And with that Dhawan gets his first four in 22 balls. Eight runs from the over. IND - 71/0 (9); Rahul - 45, Dhawan - 24. India need another 72 runs.
9:25 PM IST: Double bowling change for Sri Lanka. Wanindu Hasaranga, right-arm leg break, on. Three singles, then a dot to Shikhar Dhawan. The left-handed Indian opener comes down the pitch, but misses the line. No harm done, though. Four singles from the over. IND - 63/0 (8); Rahul - 44, Dhawan - 17. India need another 80 runs.
9:21 PM IST: Bowling change. Dasun Shanaka, right-arm medium pacer, on. A dot to KL Rahul, then two singles. Rahul takes a double long-on. A dot, then a single to end the over. Five runs from the over. IND - 59/0 (7); Rahul - 42, Dhawan - 15. India need another 84 runs.
9:17 PM IST: Dhananjaya de Silva continues. A single, then a missed stumping chance against Shikhar Dhawan, for one bye. Tough one for Kusal Perera. A dot, then two singles. All singles, five in all. IND - 54/0 (6); Rahul - 38, Dhawan - 14. India need another 89 runs.
India's Shikhar Dhawan bats during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
9:14 PM IST: Lahiru Kumara returns for his second over. A single, then KL Rahul hits back-to-back fours. Brilliant covers drives. A dot, an under-edge crashing into his ribs; then a leg bye. A dot to Shikhar Dhawan to end the over. 10 runs from the over. IND - 49/0 (5); Rahul - 35, Dhawan - 13. India need another 94 runs.
9:09 PM IST: Bowling change. Dhananjaya de Silva, right-arm off-break, on. Shikhar Dhawan takes a single, then KL Rahul improvises to hit a four to mid-off. A double off the next ball with Isuru Udana taking a bad tumble while fielding. He's taken off. One bowler down for Sri Lanka. Another double, then two singles. 11 runs from the over. IND - 39/0 (4); Rahul - 27, Dhawan - 12. India need another 104 runs.
9:04 PM IST: Lasith Malinga continues. Two brilliant cover drives for fours. Elegance personified. A straighter delivery for a dot. KL Rahul plays the fourth ball to third man for a single. Shikhar Dhawan takes a single to rotate the strike. A couple to deep mid-wicket to end the over. 12 runs from the over. IND - 28/0 (3); Rahul - 18, Dhawan - 10. India need another 115 runs.
Sri Lanka's Lahiru Kumara, left, reacts after India's KL Rahul, right, hit a boundary on his delivery during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
8:59 PM IST: Lahiru Kumara, right-arm fast-medium pacer, on. Three singles, then a dot to KL Rahul. The right-handed batsman hits the fifth ball for a four to backward square leg. Lucky one. Dragging, and just goes through with the shot. A single to end the over. Eight runs from the over. IND - 16/0 (2); Rahul - 7, Dhawan - 9. India need another 127 runs.
8:54 PM IST: Lasith Malinga with the new man. KL Rahul faces the firs ball, a single to third man. Two dots to Shikhar Dhawan, then a double to third man. Another dot, then a five, thanks to an overthrow. Dhawan plays the last ball to mid-off, and no back-up. Eight runs from the over.
8:45 PM IST: A collective performance from Indian bowlers to restrict Sri Lanka to 142/9 at Indore. Shardul Thakur claimed three wickets, while Navdeep Saini and Kuldeep Yadav took two each. Kusal Perera top-scored for the visitors with 34 off 28. Danushka Gunathilaka (20 off 21) and Avishka Fernando (22 off 16) laid a good foundation for 38/1 in 4.5 overs, but Sri Lanka lost their way on a seemingly good batting top.
Sri Lanka Innings; Toss: India
8:39 PM IST: Jasprit Bumrah on with the last over. Three consecutive fours from Wanindu Hasaranga. Last man, Lahiru Kumara, fails to get a ball. 12 runs from the over. SL - 142/9 in 20 overs. Hasaranga - 16. Bumrah's figures - 4-0-32-1. 29 runs and four wickets in the last four overs.
India's Shardul Thakur, right, celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's captain Lasith Malinga, left, during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
8:35 PM IST: Shardul Thakur on with his last over. Three wickers, Dhananjaya de Silva (17 off 13) off the first, Isuru Udana (1 off 2) off the fifth and Lasith Malinga (0 off 1) off the last -- all caught. Three runs from the over. SL - 130/9 (19); Hasaranga - 4. Thakur's figures - 4-0-23-3.
8:28 PM IST: Wanindu Hasaranga, right-handed batsman, is the new man for Sri Lanka. Kuldeep Yadav on with his last over. Dhananjaya de Silva hits the fourth ball for a four, straight down the ground. Almost a six. 10 runs from the over. SL - 127/6 (18); de Silva - 17, Hasaranga - 2. Kuldeep's figures: 4-0-38-2.
India's Jasprit Bumrah, left, celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka, right, during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
8:24 PM IST: Jasprit Bumrah returns for his third over. Four singles then the wicket of Dasun Shanaka (7 off 8). Bowled. Four runs from the over. SL - 117/6 (17); de Silva - 9.
8:19 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav on with his third over. Dhananjaya de Silva hits the last ball for a four, beats Shikhar Dhawan at point. Nine runs from the over. SL - 113/5 (16); Shanaka - 5, de Silva - 7.
8:15 PM IST: Navdeep Saini on with his last over. Two singles, then a dot to Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Saini produces a well-directed bouncer to dismiss Rajapaksa (9 off 12). Caught behind. Dhananjaya de Silva, right-handed batsman, is the new man. Two runs from the over. SL - 104/5 (15); Shanaka - 3, de Silva - 0. Saini's figures: 4-0-18-2.
8:08 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav on with his second over. Kusal Perera hits the first ball for a six, over third man. He goes for another, dancing down the wicket, but ends up offering a catch to Shikhar Dhawan at long-on. He made 34 off 28. Dasun Shanaka, right-handed batsman, is the new man. 11 runs from the over. SL - 102/4 (14); Rajapaksa - 8, Shanaka - 2.
8:04 PM IST: Shardul Thakur returns for his third over. Kusal Perera takes a single, then two dots before Bhanuka Rajapaksa hits a four, over mid-wicket. Two singles and seven runs from the over. SL - 91/3 (13); K Perera - 28, Rajapaksa - 5.
India's Kuldeep Yadav, left, reacts after dismissing Sri Lanka's Kusal Perera, right, during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
8:00 PM IST: Bowling change. Kuldeep Yadav, left-arm chinaman, on with his first over. Kusal Perera welcomes him with a six, over mid-wicket. A single, then quick work from Rishabh Pant. Oshada Fernando (10 off 9) stumped. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, left-handed batsman, is the new man. Nine runs from the over. SL - 84/3 (12); K Perera - 26, Rajapaksa - 0.
7:54 PM IST: Washington Sundar on with his last over. Oshada Fernando hits the first ball for a four, to square leg boundary. Four more singles, and eight runs from the over. SL - 75/2 (11); K Perera - 18, Fernando - 10. Sundar's figures: 4-0-29-1.
7:50 PM IST: Navdeep Saini continues. Hits Oshada Fernando with the first ball on the pads. Huge shout for LBW, but will not review. Would have been umpire Anil Chaudhary's call. A single off the next ball, then two dots to Kusal Perera. Two singles to end the over. Brilliant one. Three singles. 19 runs and a wicket in the last four wickets. SL - 67/2 (10); K Perera - 16, Fernando - 4.
7:46 PM IST: Washington Sundar continues. Two dots to Kusal Perera, then two singles. Perera slog sweeps the fifth ball for a six, deep into the mid-wicket stand. A dot to end the over. Eight runs from it. SL - 64/2 (9); K Perera - 15, Fernando - 2.
India's Navdeep Saini, left, celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Danushka Gunathilaka, right, during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
7:41 PM IST: Navdeep Saini returns for his second over. Cleans up Danushka Gunathilaka (20 off 21) with a beauty, off the fourth ball. Oshada Fernando, right-handed batsman, is the new man. Three runs from the over. SL - 56/2 (8); K Perera - 8, Fernando - 1.
7:36 PM IST: Washington Sundar continues. Five singles, except off the second ball. SL - 53/1 (7); Gunathilaka - 20, K Perera - 6.
7:32 PM IST: Shardul Thakur on with his second over. A single to Kusal Perera, then Danushka Gunathilaka hits the next ball for a four to deep mid-off. Washington Sundar restricts a certain boundary to a double at cover point. Two more singles, and nine runs from the over. SL - 48/1 (6); Gunathilaka - 18, K Perera - 3.
India's Washington Sundar, center, celebrates with teammates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
7:28 PM IST: Bowling change for India. Washington Sundar, right-arm off-break, into the attack. Avishka Fernando welcomes him with a four. Reverse sweep. Three singles, then the wicket. Fernando caught by Navdeep Saini at mid-off. He made 22 off 16. Kusal Perera, left-handed batsman, is the new man. Eight runs from the over. SL - 39/1 (5); Gunathilaka - 12, K Perera - 1.
7:23 PM IST: Change of ends for Jasprit Bumrah. Replaces Shardul Thakur. Avishka Fernando hits the first ball for a four, a very good looking square drive from the left-handed batsman. Two dots then a single. A yorker, widish one to Avishka Fernando. Good take by Rishabh Pant. And a flick for a for, over the infield, to deep mid-wicket. Nine runs from the over. SL - 31/0 (4); Gunathilaka - 6, Fernando - 21.
Sri Lanka's Danushka Gunathilaka bats during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
7:18 PM IST: Bowling change. Navdeep Saini, right-arm fast-medium, replaces Jasprit Bumrah. A wide to start his spell. Danushka Gunathilaka pulls the next, but only to mid-wicket and he changes the bat. A quick single off the third, then a brilliant shot for a four to long-off as Avishka Fernando races to 13 off 10. A dot, then Fernando pulls the last ball for a four. 10 runs from the over. SL - 22/0 (3); Gunathilaka - 1, Fernando - 17.
7:12 PM IST: Shardul Thakur shares the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah. Very good start, three dots to Avishka Fernando. Then the Sri Lankan opener punches the fourth ball for a four, beating the fielder at mid-off. A wide. Then, half chance off the last ball. Falling short of mid-on fielder. Five runs from the over. SL - 12/0 (2); Gunathilaka - 0, Fernando - 9.
7:07 PM IST: Two wides to start with. Rishabh Pant fails to collect the ball and the Lankan openers took a run off the wide. Avishka Fernando, the right-handed batsman, drives the first legal delivery through covers for a four. But Bumrah ends the over with a brilliant delivery, beating Avishka Gunathilaka. Seven runs from the over.
7:00 PM IST: Another massive update! Prithvi Shaw has a rotator cuff and labrum injury. He's likely to miss India A' New Zealand tour.
India captain Virat Kohli, right, and teammates stand in a huddle before the start of the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Indore, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
And, Jasprit Bumrah gets the new ball. Danushka Gunathilaka, left-handed batsman, to face the first ball. His opening partner is Avishka Fernando.
6:54 PM IST: Players and match officials are out and time for the national anthems.
6:51 PM IST: Elsewhere, South Africa are hanging on at Cape Town. Day Five, Tea and the hosts are 225/5 in 115 overs with Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen unbeaten on 38 and 17 off 91 and 105 balls respectively. They are playing Test cricket. Proteas need another 213 runs.
6:45 PM IST: Virat Kohli was probed on the all-important question, about Shikhar Dhawan vs KL Rahul, at the toss by Sanjay Manjrekar. And here's what the skipper said: "There is healthy competition within the group. KL and Shikhar are brilliant players, vying for one spot. It's all about doing what's best for the team. Same team, no changes at all."
6:39 PM IST: ICYMI
6:34 PM IST: And as expected, both sides are unchanged.
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah
Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera (wk), Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Malinga (c)
6:31 PM IST: Virat Kohli wins the toss again, and India will bowl first.
6:28 PM IST: Star Sports showing Virat Kohli antics again. The skipper tried his best copying Harbhajan Singh's bowling action. Toss coming up.
6:21 PM IST: Pitch Report - A better for batting, reckons Sunil Gavaskar. That says it all. Even in the IPL, batsmen have dominated, said Mural Karthik. Team winning toss should chase.
6:10 PM IST: Players are out, warming-up ahead of the toss. And there was some rain threat.
5:51 PM IST: Meanwhile, big Indian Premier League (IPL) updates -- the final will be played on May 24, and there will be no double headers with matches starting at 7.30 PM IST.
5:40 PM IST: Heavy dew expected at Indore, but the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) is ready. A special chemical has reportedly been spraying on the outfield at the Holkar Stadium to kill the dew.
5:30 PM IST: Both sides are likely to have the same XI from the Guwahati wash-out. So, here are the 'playing XIs':
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah
Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera (wk), Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Malinga (c).
Things can go bad to worse in a matter of days. That's not what the Indian cricket team is facing right now. But truth be told, after that water seepage in Guwahati, which in turn scuppered the new year's first cricket match for Virat Kohli & Co, anything can happen.
The outfield at Barsapara was ready despite the downpour, but the 22-yard stripe wasn't ready, ironically. Cricketers swear on pitches for life. The focus has since been shifted to Indore, the venue for the second T20I match between India and Sri Lanka, in a span of 24 hours. It’s known for run-fests.
Indore's Holkar Cricket Stadium has so far hosted only T20 international, and in that December 2017 match, Rohit Sharma hit 118 off 43 balls as India thrashed Sri Lanka by 88 runs after posting 260/5. Then, the Islanders were lead by Thisara Perara, and Lasith Malinga was rested.
Now, India have rested Rohit, but the premise remains the same -- India, the favourites. So, what could possibly go wrong for India? So many things. First, an injury-prone but very proud Jasprit Bumrah, second unsettled Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order, and their form in the shortest format of the game.
India are not as formidable as it's made to look like. They were forced to work extra hard to beat Bangladesh and the West Indies at home. A defeat tonight, and India can't win the series. And that will be as bad as it gets in a World Cup year.
Before the World T20, India will play more T20s -- five in New Zealand, three in Sri Lanka, three in England, the Asia Cup and three Down Under (just before the October-November event). Then, there's IPL too, to give players enough game-time. But no side will want to start a new year with a series defeat.
Squads:
India (from): Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah, Manish Pandey, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Shardul Thakur.
Sri Lanka (from): Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kusal Perera (wk), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga (c), Lahiru Kumara, Dhananjaya de Silva,Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan.
