By Our Special Correspondent
Sri Lanka put up an admirable fight back in the slog over’s of the Indian innings, restricting the Men in Blue to 173/8 when a much bigger score was possible at one stage.
And left-arm pacer Dilshan Madhushanka, whose 3/24 led to a late collapse, led Sri Lanka's fight back late in the innings before Rohit Sharma (72) and Suryakumar Yadav (34) put on a third-wicket partnership of 97 runs. Men in blue in the driver's seat.
Along with Madhushanka, Chamika Karunaratne also proved useful for Lanka as he took 2/27 in four overs, including the wicket of Rohit in the 13th over.
Madhushanka struck early in the innings, confusing the stumps to send Virat Kohli back into the hut for a four-ball duck. Although he was hit for a six by Surya kumar in his third over after being brought back in the 11th over, the dismissal of Deepak Hooda and Rishabh Pant in the space of three balls in the last over of the innings hurt the defending champion back.
Exposed for three, Hooda knocks off his stumps trying a slap shot; Pant hits a slower ball straight to Pathum Nissanka at deep midwicket.
Whether it's Mohammad Amir in the 2016 Asia Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy final, Trent Boult in the 2019 World Cup semi-final or Shaheen Shah Afridi in last year's group stage clash - India have struggled with left-arm steamrollers over the years. T20 World Cup. And with his performance on Tuesday, Madhushanka may emerge as their latest threat.
Brief Scores:
India: 173 for 8 in 20 over’s (Rohit Sharma 72, Suryakumar Yadav 34; Dilshan Madushanka 3/24, Chamika Karunaratne 2/27, Dasun Shanaka 2/26).
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