IND vs SL, 1st T20I 2023 Highlights: Shivam Mavi, Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel Shine in Two-Run Win Over Sri Lanka

A young Indian team has showed up and helped the side get off to a winning start in 2023! It has been a thrilling encounter and Indian bowlers managed to stop Sri Lanka in a tense run chase to eke out a two-run win. A lot of positives from this win and also a lot of areas in which both sides would want to improve on when they come face to face once again on January 5. 

And India have won the game! What a contest it has been! Both India and Sri Lanka have had batting failures and in the end, it is India who end up on the winning side. Hardik Pandya took a gamble and had Axar Patel bowl the last over and Chamika Karunaratne almost took his side home. But eventually, the hosts prevailed to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series. Shivam Mavi, who made his debut for India, has been the architect of this win for India as he took four wickets after a rough start to end with figures of 4/22. The contest went on till the last ball in which India managed to hold on and bag the victory! What a game this has been! 

Chamika Karunaratne is keeping Sri Lanka in the game here with his ability to hit the big shots. Harshal Patel has had a bad day on the field, conceding 40  runs in his four overs. 13 runs are needed off six balls! 

Chamika Karunaratne is keeping Sri Lanka in the game here with his ability to hit the big shots. Harshal Patel has had a bad day on the field, conceding 40  runs in his four overs. 13 runs are needed off six balls! 

OUT! Shivam Mavi continues his splendid debut as he has now dismissed the in-form Wanindu Hasaranga! The right-hander was looking good and he attempted to smash the slower ball and he ended up straight to mid-off. What a debut he is having! Wanindu Hasaranga c Hardik Pandya b Shivam Mavi 21(10)

Sri Lanka have found themselves to be in a spot of bother. Losing too many wickets upfront and not having any partnership so far has hampered their run chase and India would be pleased with the bowling effort. Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga need to keep going as they have batted well so far and Sri Lanka would want one of these two to carry on till the end. 

OUT! Another one bites the dust and it is the dangerous Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who has been dismissed. Harshal Patel deceived the southpaw with a slower delivery and Hardik Pandya went back and took the catch but fell over. The physios came out to check on him as India has another wicket at a crucial moment. Bhanuka Rajapaksa c Hardik Pandya b Harshal Patel 10(11)

OUT! Another Sri Lankan wicket falls and Harshal Patel has dismissed Kusal Mendis, who played the shot straight to Sanju Samson! The ball was not a great one but Mendis has found the fielder and Sri Lanka have lost a fourth wicket. Kusal Mendis c Sanju Samson b Harshal Patel 28(25) 

OUT! What a catch that is! Ishan Kishan ran all the way to end up taking a wonderful catch to dismiss Charith Asalanka, who was looking so good! The wicketkeeper batter called for the high catch and ran after Asalanka skied it while playing a pull shot and Kishan dived and hung on to the ball despite falling on his belly. India have a third wicket, and Umran Malik has struck! Charith Asalanka c Ishan Kishan b Umran Malik 12(15) 

India have managed to have a good powerplay with Shivam Mavi pegging Sri Lanka back with two wickets. The debutant dismissed Pathum Nissanka in his first over and then returned to send back Dhananjaya de Silva. His two wickets has helped India keep Sri Lanka in check. 

OUT! Shivam Mavi has got another wicket and it is that of Dhananjaya de Silva. The right-hander got a thick leading edge and Sanju Samson did not make any mistake this time, taking a simple catch. He has got two wickets now! What a debut it is turning out to be. Dhananjaya de Silva c Sanju Samson b Shivam Mavi 8(6) 

OUT! Timberrrr! Shivam Mavi has struck for India in his first over! After being hit for boundaries early on, he has produced a gem of a delivery that has broken through the defenses of the batter and the ball shattered the stumps! The ball nipped back and disturbed the woodwork and India have a breakthrough! Pathum Nissanka b Shivam Mavi 1(3)

An eventful first over comes to an end with Hardik Pandya almost dismissing Pathum Nissanka but Sanju Samson failed to hold on to the ball while landing on his elbow. The Indian captain has bowled a decent over otherwise. 

Deepak Hooda (41* off 23) and Axar Patel (31* off 20)  have provided India with a good finish here. The two have put together a 68-run stand from just 35 balls to give India some stability and momentum in this innings. Hooda started with the attacking shots, hitting three sixes off the bowling of the Sri Lankan spinners and Axar Patel later played some quality shots of his own. India have managed 

Deepak Hooda has provided some momentum to the innings with a couple of sixes off Maheesh Theekshana and then, he hands the same treatment to Wanindu Hasaranga. India need him to hit a few more of those to get to a good total here. 

OUT! Indian captain Hardik Pandya is the latest wicket to fall and Dilshan Madushanka is the man to provide the breakthrough! Pandya tried to cut a delivery and edged it behind to Kusal Mendis, who takes a simple catch. India have lost another wicket at the wrong time.  Hardik Pandya c Kusal Mendis b Dilshan Madushanka 29(27)

The game is delicately poised now with Sri Lanka keeping a check on the Indian batters. Ishan Kishan's dismissal was a big setback for India and it has brought Deepak Hooda out to join captain Hardik Pandya in the crease. With six overs to go, India will need to have atleast 160-70 on board to pose a tough challenge for the Sri Lankan batters. 

OUT! Ishan Kishan is the man to depart and it is Sri Lanka's magician Wanindu Hasaranga, who has provided the big wicket! The left-hander went for a big shot but failed to connect it well and the ball flew straight to mid-wicket where Dhananjaya de Silva ended up taking a good catch.  Ishan Kishan c Dhananjaya de Silva b Wanindu Hasaranga 37(29) 

Ishan Kishan has taken a liking to Kasun Rajitha, hitting him for a six and four to put India at 75/3 at the halfway mark in this innings. India did get a good start to the innings but lost three wickets in quick succession, which have dented the flow of runs. This partnership between him and Hardik Pandya is key to India score around 170-180. 

Hardik Pandya has shifted some momentum towards India with back-to-back fours off Chamika Karunaratne in the eighth over. The captain needs to carry on in the same manner and help his side get to a good total on this pitch, which seemed to be a good track to bat.