The Men in Blue are currently involved in the T20I series against the Sri Lankan cricket team. Hardik Pandya was named the T20I captain to lead the pack for the Sri Lanka series.
Team India opened their account with a win over Sri Lanka in the first T20I at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as they defeated Sri Lanka by two runs and took the first lead in the series.
However, Sri Lanka had to work beyond the bounds of possibility to give problems to Team India in the second T20I at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Thursday.
Indian seamers ran through a terrible experience as they kept making mistakes time and again, which literally put them on the back foot, more often than not. The likes of Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Mavi and Umran Malik were on the receiving end as they were taken to the cleaners by the Sri Lankan batters.
Team India suffer first defeat against Sri Lanka in T20I in India since 2016
Arshdeep Singh gave away 37 runs in two overs at an economy of 18.5 whereas Shivam Mavi conceded 53 runs in his quota of four overs. Although Umran Malik was expensive for giving away 48 runs (economy – 12), he accounted for three dismissals.
Sri Lankan batters capitalized on Indian seamers’ terrible mistakes by scoring runs when it mattered the most. Overall, Arshdeep Singh bowled five no-balls whereas the likes of Shivam Mavi and Umran Malik bowled one no-ball apiece.
In the end, Sri Lanka posted a massive total of 206/6 in their quota of 20 overs. The Men in Blue lost Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill for single-digit scores, thus mounting immense pressure on the middle order.
The likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel played superbly as they provided a ray of hope for India in the run-chase by scoring a fifty apiece. Axar scored 65 off 31 whereas Suryakumar scored 51 off 36. Sri Lanka beat India by 16 runs and levelled the series as India suffered their first loss against Sri Lanka in T20I in India since 2016.
Indian cricket team is just an average cricket team now. You can beat them if you keep your calm.
— Uttaran Das (@das_uttaran) January 5, 2023
First loss for Pandya in T20Is as Captain.
— Apple_Jack 🍎 (@Being_a_medico) January 5, 2023
We want this kind of losses…. We should loose all billateral series this year…And Win the Cup which we need the most
— Colt (@Colt26787607) January 5, 2023
No ball cost us💔 pic.twitter.com/U07941fzLF
— Rajju Ak90fi 🔥 (@Rajjuak90fi) January 5, 2023
Hardik is a fearless captain. I think instead of criticising him, we should appreciate him for backing the bowlers. Happy with the attitude shown by the team even when in pressure.
— T#€ 🅱💙🆖 Gu¥ 🇮🇳 (@SarkarSpeaking) January 5, 2023
Lately india is having a tough time try to win against neighbors. Second year of experimentation is on , hopefully it will end soon & we will have a core team for T20, ODI & Test soon .
— CrickLife (@Crick4Life) January 5, 2023
Yes..but this gonna make series interesting 1-1 with final being winner takes it all ..
— hombre misterioso (@BeatItJabroni) January 5, 2023
India could have lost the series by now and luckily won the first match.
— chandrasaimohan (@twiter4me) January 5, 2023
Both in Pune
— Gokulujjiraina (@gokulujjiraina3) January 6, 2023
🇱🇰 has never won T20I series vs 🇮🇳 in 🇮🇳
Come on 🇮🇳 please don't lose this T20I series
— Adlee (@ImAdlee225) January 5, 2023
