The players will undergo further tests and if all results are clear, the second T20I is expected to be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.
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The second T20I between Sri Lanka and India which was scheduled to take place today at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium, has been postponed. Following the rapid antigen tests conducted ahead of the match on Tuesday morning, Team India all-rounder Krunal Pandya was found to be positive. The medical teams have identified eight members as close contacts. Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav are two of those cricketers according to sources. Shaw and Yadav might miss the tour of England if they test positive for the deadly virus. They were being flown in as replacements for Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, and Washington Sundar who were ruled out due to injuries. The entire contingent is undergoing RT-PCR tests today to ascertain any further outbreak in the squad. In case of no further issues, the second and final T20I of the series will take place tomorrow and on Thursday.
The visitors emerged victorious in the opening T20I by a margin of 38 runs, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar the star performer.
Fast-bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar accounted for a four-wicket haul to help India defeat Sri Lanka by 38 runs in the opening T20I of the three-match series. The visitors defended a total of 164, which seemed to be competitive but not a winning total at the end of the first innings. Bhuvneshwar had not seemed at his best in the recently concluded ODI series, with many criticising the lack of confidence. However, the pacer seemed to be in fine rhythm in the T20I encounter, accounting for wickets at regular intervals. Bhuvneshwar has now recorded the third-best figures in the shortest format for India against Sri Lanka, following his figures of 4/22. The fast-bowler accounted for the dismissals of Avishka Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, and Dushmantha Chameera.
Ravichandran Ashwin has recorded the best T20I figures for the Men in Blue, having accounted for four wickets while conceding 8 runs in a clash held at Vizag in 2016. Ashoke Dinda stands on the second spot, after registering figures of (4/18) in an encounter held at Pallekele in 2012. Deepak Chahar chipped in with the dismissals of Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga. Krunal Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Hardik Pandya registered a wicket apiece. Charith Asalanka was the top run-getter for the hosts, accounting for 44 runs in 26 deliveries. Asalanka scored three boundaries and sixes apiece. Avishka Fernando was the second highest run-scorer, with 26 runs off 23 balls.
India managed to reach a total of 164 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs, following a fine half-century by Suryakumar Yadav. The Indian batsman reached the milestone off 34 balls in an innings comprising of five boundaries and two sixes. Suryakumar’s knock played a key role in helping the visitors reach a defendable total. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan scored 46 runs off 36 deliveries in a knock which included four fours and one hit into the stands.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera were the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka, chipping in with two wickets apiece.
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