The Lankan Lions set a massive 207-run target for the Men in Blue after being asked to bat first in Pune on Thursday, January 5. Their seamers then reduced Hardik Pandya and Co. to 34/4 in the fifth over and they eventually won the match by 16 runs.
While reviewing the game on Star Sports, Gambhir was all praise for Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka, elaborating:
The former Indian opener acknowledged that the hosts were under pressure while chasing a mammoth total but pointed out that the Sri Lankan bowlers cannot be denied credit, saying:
Gambhir added:
Rajitha castled Ishan Kishan with the first delivery he bowled and had Shubman Gill caught at mid-on off the final ball of the same over. Madushanka had Rahul Tripathi caught behind off the first ball of the next over to put the hosts well behind the eight ball in the run chase.
“You can easily go defensive” - Gautam Gambhir lauds Dasun Shanaka’s captaincy
Gambhir was also appreciative of Dasun Shanaka’s captaincy, explaining:
Gambhir added that the field placements suggested that Sri Lanka were looking to go for the kill, observing:
India came back into the game through a 91-run partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel after they were reduced to 57/5 after 9.1 overs. However, Madushanka had the former caught at long-on to give the visitors the ascendancy before Shanaka put the last nail in the coffin by dismissing Axar and Shivam Mavi in the final over.
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