India captain Hardik Pandya had won the toss and opted to bat against the reigning Asian champions in the 3rd T20I vs Sri Lanka.
The match was played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Powered by Suryakumar Yadav’s dazzling third T20I century, India thrashed Sri Lanka by 91 runs in the series-decider.
Chasing a target of 229, Sri Lanka were skittled out for 137 (16.4 overs) as India won the three-match series 2-1.
Kusal Mendis continued his good touch by running away to 21 off 10 as Sri Lanka got to 35 in 3.1 overs.
However, Mavi pulled them back, and Axar created enough mistakes to get Mendis caught at short third in the fifth over.
Sri Lanka kept getting boundaries in response but the asking rate was too high and they kept losing wickets too often.
Pacer Arshdeep bagged three wickets while spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2) shared four wickets with speedster Umran Malik (2) as Sri Lanka folded for 137 in 16.4 overs.
Owing to this victory, India have the most number of wins against a single opponent in T20Is – 19 off 29 games.
England have a similar record against Pakistan.Â
The win took India’s unbeaten streak in T20I bilaterals at home to 11 series. Only one of these series was drawn.
Surya shines bright
Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav slammed an unbeaten century to power India to a mammoth total of 228/5 against Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I in Rajkot.
After completing his fifty 26 balls, Suryakumar took only 19 deliveries to reach the 100-run mark.
He remained unbeaten on 112 off 51 balls, smashing nine sixes and seven fours in the process.
Shubman Gill was India’s second-higest scorer with a 36-ball 46, while Rahul Tripathi also scored 35 off 16 balls.
For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka took two wickets, while Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne and Wanindu Hasaranga scalped a wicket each.
Suryakumar Yadav said after his magnificent innings, “It’s really important to put pressure on yourself when you are preparing for a game. If you do that in practice, it gets a little easier while playing the game.”
“There is a lot of hard work involved but it’s about doing quality practice sessions. You should know what your game is and prepare accordingly. Boundaries behind the wickets are like 50-60 meters, so I try to target them.”
“There are some shots that are pre-determined but you need to have other shots in the armoury as well. If the bowler changes his plan, you can have an answer. He (Dravid) just lets me enjoy myself. He tells me to just enjoy and express myself.”
India have clinched yet another bilateral series and Sri Lanka’s chance to win a series in India will have to wait.
However, they will get an opportunity immediately in a few day’s time as the two sides will lock horns in a three-match ODI series.
India 228 for 5 (Suryakumar 112*, Gill 46, Madushanka 2-55) beat Sri Lanka 137 (Mendis 23, Arshdeep 3-20, Hardik 2-30) by 91 runs
India XI: Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya (capt), Axar Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep SinghÂ
Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.
