Player of the Match
Player of the Match

10.37pm That's that then from Indore. India go 1-0 up in the series with an emphatic performance from just about everybody that pulled on the India blue today. The series gets decided in three days' time in Pune, and we hope you will join us for that. Fidel's report will be around on the site soon, and Deivarayan Muthu's analysis from Indore should follow soon after. For the moment, from Chandan Duorah, Shashank Kishore and the rest of us at ESPNcricinfo, this is Debayan Sen saying goodnight and goodbye!

Varun: "When anyone says that India should experiment than to win matches.... It reminds me of pre-2007 world cup phase under Greg when we were changing the team and the batting order left and right. Didn't go so well then"

Navdeep Saini is the Man of the Match! Speaks to Kartik: "I was back in the T20 team after such a long time, that's why I felt quite confident and eager. (On thinking in T20) The first thing is to be confident, and only then can you bring in variations. (More satisfactory wicket) I liked the yorker better because I nailed it better than expectations. (On how he sees himself as a bowler, whether in white-ball cricket or red-ball) I play both, and hence the more I play, the better I will get at them. (Pace) When I made my T20 debut, all I thought of was pace. But as I have played more, I have realised that variations are important too."

Virat Kohli: "This was a clinical performance, and that's how we want to build on each series. We have ticked a few more boxes this time. Brilliant from Navdeep. He has done well in ODI cricket, and he's bowling well in T20s, with experienced guys like Jasprit, Bhuvi and Shardul. It's a really good sign for the team. It's good to have Jasprit back again. He was really keen to bowl again, and his pace was up again. We have to choose who will be our best skills. I think there'll be one player who will be a surprise package. Prasidh Krishna is someone who has bowled really well in domestic cricket. (On picking Washington Sundar ahead of Jadeja) I think they have a lot of left-handers, and the idea was about match-ups. We need balance, and you need more than five bowlers in T20 cricket. It was a really good surface, and we pulled things back really well. We kept picking wickets, and we didn't let them to 170-175, which I thought would have been a par score. (On choice of number three) The thought process is simple - we need to see guys step up, win matches under pressure. Me going in at 4 helps us too, like I did at Wankhede [against West Indies]. At the same time, give young players a chance."

Lasith Malinga: "I thought we were lacking by about 25 runs. We were looking at 160 or so. The bowlers did a good job of sticking to their job. (On Udana) I think he's our main bowler, and just before bowling, he got injured. He's getting better, and let's see how he goes before that match. (Other players) We need to give opportunities to them. We know how experienced he [Angelo Mathews] is. We need the young players also to get into a winning way."

10.23pm The presentation is up next.

Paras Dua: "While largely a complete performance, India needs to really challenge itself - bat first and defend targets on flat decks, or assume they need to chase the score down in 15 overs. Risk of not experiment is much higher than risk of losing as preparation for world cup." --- Agree, but still a few games to go. I am sure they are looking to seal their best possible squad first of all

karthik : "Can anyone tell me why didn't Malinga gave an over to Udana. Is he considering him as a batsman?? Hoping this will be answered " --- Udana's had so many questions asked about him today, I suspect RCB fans outnumber those of the Sri Lankan team. He injured himself while fielding, during just the fourth over, unfortunately. That was the issue with him. Hopefully, he will recover in time for the series decider in Pune on January 10

Galvin Dhaliwal: "Shreyas showing time and time again on how poor the selectors were in picking the number 4 batsman going into the World Cup!"

KL Rahul talks to Murali Kartik: "We've been away from the game for a little time, and wanted to get some game time. We were able to play the way we did because of our bowlers. It was probably a 170/180 wicket, and the bowlers did really well. I have just been getting runs, and building my innings well. I've been getting runs, playing out in the middle, and that's been good. (On opening partners, Rohit and Dhawan) I don't think there's anything different. We all go out there with a simple plan - to win games for our country. Rohit just makes batting look so damn easy. Shikhar and I have opened together from the time I started my Test career. We have a job to do and we try to do it to the best of our ability."

There are athletes who have won more medals and accolades than her. There are athletes who are more popular than her. But no one has made a bigger impact, won a tougher battle, taken a firmer stand than her. Dutee Chand. ESPN India's Icon of the decade.

Navjot S Bhatia: "Navdeep Saini for MoM" --- Could be a tough choice, but his spell was quite something. Agreed. In fact, all bowlers picked wickets, and all the batsmen got some runs. Pant got a stumping, and even Dube took a catch! One of those days where you cannot complain about anything

10.10pm India get 2020 off in some style. A complete performance in many ways, right from the toss that they won and inserted Sri Lanka. A good effort from all the bowlers took them to a position from where it seemed unlikely to have any result other than an Indian win. That was backed up with some good contributions from every member of the top four

17.3
6
Kumara to Kohli, SIX, ooh, finished in style! Kohli gets inside the line of a short ball, and then whips it on one leg over the long leg fence. Meeting fire with fire, in every respect. Punches gloves with the non-striker, and now acknowledges the congratulations from the opposition players
17.2
1
Kumara to Pant, 1 run, greets him with a shortish ball, but not enough to go around his shoulder. Pant wafts it away, across the line, towards deep square leg

Slip comes in for Pant

AG: "@Ram - hold your horses, we have only seen him smack spinners out of the park, will be interesting how he fares against the likes of Starc and Cummins.. big fan BTW! "

Pant in next

17.1
W
Kumara to Iyer, OUT, gets his man with a short ball! Smart bowling, as he digs this in short, but leaves it outside off, inviting Iyer to take him on. This was always going to be difficult to control, especially with the kind of pace Kumara generates, and that takes it to deep square leg's safe hands

SS Iyer c Shanaka b Kumara 34 (26b 3x4 1x6) SR: 130.76

Kumara again

END OF OVER:
17 | 16 Runs | IND: 137/2 (6 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.05, RRR: 2.00)

  • Shreyas Iyer34 (25b)
  • Virat Kohli24 (16b)
  • Lasith Malinga4-0-41-0
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-30-2

Ragha: "Malinga to Kohli reminds me of some good old match in Aus. That was the beginning of the Kohli Mania."

16.6
1
Malinga to Iyer, 1 run, slower ball, and he goes back and drives this towards deep mid-wicket

15 off this already. In the meantime, Kohli has reached 1000 runs as T20I captain

16.5
1
Malinga to Kohli, 1 run, fuller ball, and driven towards deep mid-wicket

Sri Lanka tour of India 2019-20 News

India 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st71S DhawanKL Rahul
2nd15S DhawanSS Iyer
3rd51V KohliSS Iyer
4th7V KohliRR Pant