Team India thrashed Sri Lanka in the first of the three-match ODI series by seven wickets chasing down a target of 263 in just 36.4 overs. The match wasn't one-sided as the equation suggests at least after the first innings as the hosts staged a comeback owing to pacer Chamika Karunaratne's cameo late in the innings getting past 260, which didn't seem a possibility for a long part of their batting innings.
India go 1-0 up
Skipper Shikhar Dhawan scores an unbeaten 86 as the visitors win with 80 deliveries remaining. #SLvIND | https://t.co/trHbMrCpo8 pic.twitter.com/3rNnhBzMwt
— ICC (@ICC) July 18, 2021
However, the match was done and dusted in the powerplay itself as India scored 91 runs in the first 10 overs, needing just 170-odd in the next 40. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan played second fiddle to his Delhi Capitals and now team India opener Prithvi Shaw, who just wanted to finish this game in a hurry.
Two boundaries in the first over and he was off and running. He didn't stop scoring till he was eventually sent back by the off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva not before he had clobbered 43 runs off just 24 balls timing nine of them for splendid boundaries.
The show had just started as after Shaw, it was debutant Ishan Kishan's turn to play his part. The left-handed wicket-keeper batsman, who turned 23 on Sunday decided to throw himself a party at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as he hit the first two balls of his ODI career for a six and a four.
Ishan completed his maiden half-century and skipper Shikhar Dhawan was left to just stroll and get his side home. Earlier, Indian spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in particular playing together after more than two years took four wickets in total and played important role in restricting the home side.
With this emphatic win, Shikhar Dhawan and co took a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second game set to be played on Tuesday, July 20 at the same venue.
From former Indian batsman VVS Laxman to experts and fans, many people reacted to India's easy win. Here are some of the reactions:
A thoroughly convincing win for Team India. A calm , composed captain's Innings from @SDhawan25 . Prithvi Shaw , Ishan Kishan were brilliant with their strokeplay, and so was Surya Kumar Yadav at the end. Fantastic win #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/o9OWj1RuMU
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 18, 2021
Sealed it off in 36.4 overs. Well done, India!
— Shayan Acharya (@ShayanAcharya) July 18, 2021
What a game from India, winning by 7 wickets. Well played! The chase: Shikhar Dhawan anchoring the team with a great innings. Shaw and Kishan having exciting knocks, and scenes caused by Sky at the end the depth in Team India is lit. #SLvIND
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) July 18, 2021
Blistering start by @PrithviShaw © Captain’s knock from @SDhawan25 @ishankishan51 entertaining fifty on debut Respectable Score From @im_manishpandey And The Perfect Bowlers Perfect run-chase for #TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/kGMfEv0Bjo
— Akhil Kondreddy (@akhil_Sayzz) July 18, 2021
What a performance from the team! @SDhawan25 @ishankishan51 @PrithviShaw too good! And how good it was to see Rahul bhai back in the dressing room #SLvIND #RahulDravid pic.twitter.com/JINUZfjYBO
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 18, 2021
Imagine what the ‘main team’ would’ve done! #INDvSL
— Tanay Tiwari (@Tanay_Tiwari) July 18, 2021
Nice stroll in the park for India. The 'B' team is as strong as the regular team. #SLvIND
— Niharika Raina (@niharika_raina) July 18, 2021