Sri Lanka Vs India 2017: Very, Very Happy As A Captain: Virat Kohli

With a win in the one off T20I against Sri Lanka, team India stamped a complete dominance over the hosts on the tour. In a total of nine international games, Sri Lanka could just come close to win one game but there as well, they couldn’t end up on a winning note.

The visiting side, riding on an innings of 82 from Virat Kohli, went past the total of 170 quite easily, with four balls to spare. The captain was on a track to finish the game on his own but just 10 runs before the target, he was caught by Shanaka and failed to be there until the end. However, the task was done already and there were no issues at all after his dismissal. Equal credit goes to Manish Pandey as well. The Karnataka batsman played an innings of 51* and shared a match winning partnership of 119 with the skipper, to steer team India to a win.

The win wouldn’t have been possible if Kohli and Pandey wouldn’t have stayed there for long. Indian bowlers also played their part well as restricting Sri Lanka on 170 on this pitch was not an easy task.

The home side had an apt start but their innings was marred with wickets at crucial states as whenever it looked like the team will come up with a total out of the box, a wicket fell which further jeopardized the hopes of getting somewhat close to 200. The home side had a start which could have amused them but fall of wicket of Upul Tharanga when the team was at 22 came as an upset. Again, the team tried to get back on track but Dickwella’s wicket put a break on Sri Lanka’s bus. The wicket of Mathews could have been the last thing that they could have asked for and Sri Lanka had to opt for a safe approach so as to play complete T20 overs.

Dilshan Munaweera though was a man in form. He emerged as the highest run scorer for his side and his innings of 53 comprised of four sixes and five fours. Ashan Priyanjan also played a crucial knock of 40 but he consumed 40 deliveries for the same as well. Sri Lanka finished on a total of 170, which was not a winning total for them.
Here is what Indian skipper Virat Kohli – who also turned out to be Man of the Match and Man of the Series said at the end of the game –

Virat Kohli:

“Very special, hasn’t been done before. Credit to all the hard work the boys have put in. Evidence of the fact how hungry the players are in Indian cricket. Very, very happy as a captain. I look to back my strengths in T20 cricket. It’s something I’ve practiced very hard to mould my game to all formats. When you’re two-down chasing 171, we knew it won’t be easy. Manish was outstanding as well today.”