Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd T20I at Kandy, SL vs IND, Jul 28 2024 - Match Result

That was a short and sweet presentation ceremony. Both teams felt that the rain was a major factor in how the game eventually panned out. Nonetheless, a win is a win, and the India men earn back some bragging rights against Sri Lanka men after the Sri Lanka women defeated India women at the Asia Cup final earlier this evening. This is also the first T20I series win for Suryakumar Yadav (as full-time captain) and new coach Gautam Gambhir. Sri Lanka go back to the drawing board to find a way to bat better. India will consider making few changes before match number three. We'll see you then. On behalf of Thilak and Deivarayan, this is Sreshth saying good bye and ayubowan.

11.26pm Roshan Abeysinghe is ready to start the post-match chat. Ravi Bishnoi is the Player of the Match, and he says, "pitch was different today. It wasn't turning in the first innings yesterday, but it was turning today. My pace is a good pace for me, I enjoy bowling in that pace. I love bowling wrong'uns, and I try to do what works for me. Wrong'uns work against the left-hander. Bowling at the death shows the management trusts me, and I love that responsibility."

Losing captain Charith Asalanka: "Disappointed with our batting at the death and our middle and lower-middle order, including me. We must improve our batting at the death. This pitch, when the ball gets older, it becomes really hard to bat. But that's not the reason. As a professional cricketer, we have to do well, and find a way. The way we approach our last five overs, we have to do something. I think we were behind 15-18 runs. Unfortunately weather also played something. It's easy in an eight-over game with a wet outfield (smiles).

Winning captain Suryakumar Yadav: "We spoke about this before this tournament, what brand of cricket we want to play. Even though it was a shorter target, this is the template we want going ahead. With the weather around, I thought anything below 160 or 150 chasing would've been nice. We've seen games here have been tricky. Rain helped us. The way the boys batted...wonderful. We'll sit and decide what we'll do going forward [about next game's playing XI]. Little bit of luck has to go around, and just blessed with [the rain.]

11.18pm The teams shake hands, and we can see Gambhir taking Suryakumar to the side for a short private chat, a potential debrief before the team celebrates this series win together. Their next aim will be a clean sweep of the T20I series - the final game is on Tuesday.

Siddhant: "This new young Indian batting line up is nothing less that a "Carnage""

11.16pm India chase the revised target down with nine balls to spare. When Sanju Samson fell for a first-ball duck, the home crowd was feeling like they could win this game. But Jaiswal, Suryakumar and Hardik shut that idea down swiftly, and the visitors claim the series easily.

Credit also to the India bowlers in the back-end of the first innings. Bishnoi, Hardik, Axar and Arshdeep ensured Sri Lanka could score only 31 runs in the last five overs amid a flurry of wickets. That was also a contributing factor in this rain-hit game. Ironically, the two highest scores of the day, Kusal Perera (53) and Pathum Nissanka (32) finish on the losing side.

Kuldeep : "Seems like the playing orders are not fixed and that GG likes to have a left-right combination at the crease? Right?" -- good observation. Need more games to prove that theory though

Sri Lanka women hit a six to win the Women's T20 Asia Cup when five runs were left earlier today. Will Hardik do the same to seal the series?

That was an 18-run over.

Kuntal: "Yes Sreshth , it was "Dada" written all over in that Jaiswal six"

Rishabh Pant. What does Hasaranga bowl now?

Anil : "only 24 needed of last three. India can afford to play out the remaining one over from Pathirana and target others."

Matheesha Pathirana has dismissed Suryakumar Yadav in all three T20 innings where he bowled to him.

Sens: "Anyone signing my petition? Only 2 sweeps allowed per over!" -- I don't mind it. Sign of respect to the spinner on most occasions

Here's Pathirana. He was ESPNcricinfo's Smart Stats MVP last night despite SL going down by 43 runs.