The young Indian team cricket led by stand-in captain Rohit Sharma were favourites for winning the opening match between India and Sri Lanka in Nidahas Trophy 2018. However, predictions were proven wrong when the passionate Sri Lankan team thrashed the Men-in-Blue by five wickets at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Tuesday.

In the first match of the tri-nation series, while Indian failed to make a mark, Sri Lanka team impressed their audience as the achieved the target of 175 runs with ease.

The Statesman takes a look at the performance of both Indian and Sri Lankan batsmen who played the first T20I.

Winners of the match:

Shikhar Dhawan

In the first T20I, the viewers once again witnessed ‘hitman’ Rohit Sharma failing again. And star batsman Shikhar Dhawan once again covered-up for him.

Explosive batter Dhawan scored a sensational 90 runs in 48 balls with a strike rate of 183.67. During his innings, Shikhar hit six maximum and six boundaries.

Kusal Perera

The number 3 Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Perera was the player of the match from Sri Lanka side as he single-handedly took away the match from India’s grip.

Perera scored 66 runs with the strike rate of 178.38 and stabilised the innings after the cheap dismissals of their openers. During his exceptional innings, he struck six boundaries and four sixes.

Manish Pandey

After losing two early wickets in the form of skipper Rohit Sharma (0) and Suresh Raina (1), Number four batsman Manish Pandey, along with Dhawan, took the charge of the match and built a crucial 95-run partnership and took visitors to a decent total of 174.

Pandey scored 37 runs off 35 balls with a strike rate of 105.71. During his innings, he scored three boundaries and one maximum.

Thisara Perera

Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera was the player who took the charge of the Islanders’ innings after the dismissal of Kusal Perera and helped his team achieve the target of 175 runs with nine balls to spare.

Thisara scored 22 runs with the explosive strike rate of 220. In his 22 runs innings, Perera hit one maximum and three boundaries.

Losers of the match:

Rohit Sharma

The stand-in Indian skipper Rohit Sharma once again failed to give India a good start as he was sent back to pavilion on the fourth ball of the first over for a duck. It seems after South Africa tour, Rohit Sharma’s poor form will continue even in Sri Lanka.

Suresh Raina

After the early dismissal of Rohit Sharma, expectations were high from number 3 batsman Suresh Raina. But Raina was not able to lead the Indian innings as he played a rash shot early in his innings and was sent back to the stands for one run.

Kusal Mendis

Though Sri Lankan team put a team effort in winning the first T20I, yet there are few players who can have played better. And one of them is Kusal Mendis. As an opener, Mandis failed to give Islanders a good start as he was sent back by Washington Sundar at a score of 11.

Dinesh Chandimal

After the cheap and early departure of Sri Lankan openers, skipper Dinesh Chandimal should have taken their team towards victory. But he was not able to do much as he went back to the pavilion for a score of 14.