The Indian cricket team secured a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI at Eden Gardens, thereby winning the series.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, but their score of 215 was below par due to the efforts of the Indian bowlers.
Mohammed Siraj stood out with three wickets and put pressure on the opposition by hitting hard lengths when there was no swing available.
Kuldeep Yadav also took advantage of the opportunity by triggering a middle-order collapse with his three wickets, while Umran Malik shone once again with his raw pace, claiming a couple of wickets.
Axar Patel also played impressively in the field, with a few handy catches.
Chasing the target, India were off to a quick with openers Shubhman Gill and Rohit Sharma smashing five fours and a six inside the first four overs.
The batting duo looked in sublime touch and fed on the over-pitched bowling by the Sri Lankan pace attack.
Pacer Chamika Karunaratne struck to the fourth-stump line to produce Rohit’s edge in the fifth over, giving the visitors some much-needed respite.
Rohit was dismissed for 17(21).
Lahiru Kumara was struck for consecutive boundaries by Gill but the bowler bounced back by dismissing the batter on the third ball of the over for a quick-fire 21(12).
The onus to steady the inning fell on last match’s centurion Virat Kohli and batter Shreyas Iyer.
However, the former Indian captain was bowled by a fiery in-swinging delivery by Lahiru.
Virat could only score 4(9).
Shreyas Iyer played a few counter-attacking shots to shift momentum a bit, but he failed to convert a start into a substantial score.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers then reduced India to 86/4, putting the home team in a tricky position.
However, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul stepped up to the plate and played a crucial role in leading India to victory.
Rahul remained calm under pressure and batted sensibly, scoring an unbeaten 64 off 103 balls.
He also struck a crucial 75-run partnership with Hardik Pandya, which ultimately helped India cross the finish line with 40 balls to spare and secure a series win.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first in an effort to keep the series alive.
However, the team faced a couple of injury blows, with Pathum Nissanka and Dilshan Madhushanka both missing out.
The hosts also made a forced change, with Yuzvendra Chahal being replaced by Kuldeep Yadav.
India 219 for 6 (Rahul 64*, Hardik 36, Karunaratne 2-51, Kumara 2-64) beat Sri Lanka 215 (Nuwanidu 50, Mendis 34, Wellalage 32, Siraj 3-30, Kuldeep 3-51) by four wickets
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Kusal Mendis(w), Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha
