Sri Lanka was up against a relatively new Indian side under the leadership of new captain Suryakumar Yadav. However, the hosts failed to make any mark in the three-match T20I series as they ended up losing by 0-3. It was a poor performance by the island nation in all facets of the game, as India dominated the series throughout.
The first T20I of the tour saw India putting up a massive score of 213 runs on the board and Sri Lanka scoring only 170 runs in 19.2 overs to record a defeat by 43 runs. It was another poor batting performance by the hosts in the second T20I as they racked up a score of 161 runs in the allotted 20 overs.
Chasing the total, Suryakumar Yadav & Men added 81 runs to the scoreboard in 6.3 overs to win the game by seven wickets as rain interrupted the match. The last T20 International was a thrilling affair as both teams scored 137 runs each. However, in the Super Over, Sri Lanka could score only two runs and India won the game in the first ball of the over. Let us check out the player ratings for the Sri Lankan players.
Top Order
Pathum Nissanka (7.5/10): Pathum Nissanka ended up as the top run-scorer in the three-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka. The opening batter smacked 137 runs in three matches at an average of 45.67. He delivered his best performance of the series during the first T20 International as he ended up with a knock of 79 runs off just 48 balls when Sri Lanka was chasing the target of 214 runs in the allotted 20 overs.
Kusal Mendis (6/10): Just like his opening partner Nissanka, Kusal Mendis also had a good start to the three-match series as he returned with a knock of 45 runs in the first T20 International. The batter failed to continue the momentum in the second game as he was dismissed for a score of 10 runs.
However, the final match saw the wicketkeeper-batter stitching a crucial partnership with Kusal Perera and scoring 43 runs off 41 balls to help Sri Lanka equal the scores while following India’s score of 137 runs in the 20 overs.
Kusal Perera (6.5/10): Sri Lanka’s top-order looked in great shape against the Indian cricket team and Kusal Perera was no exception. The batter led the batting unit from the front as he ended up as the second-highest run-scorer with 119 runs at an average of 39.67.
Kusal Perera was the second-highest run-getter in the three-match series
Perera’s best performance came during the second T20I as his knock of 53 runs steered Sri Lanka to a total of 161 runs in the allotted 20 overs.
Middle Order
Kamindu Mendis (2/10): Kamindu Mendis underperformed in the three-match T20I series against India as he scored only 39 runs in three matches at a poor average of 13.00.
Charith Asalanka (1.5/10): Charith Asalanka was no better as he also failed to live up to the expectations and racked up a total of just 14 runs in three matches at an average of 7.50. Asalanka looked lacklustre as the leader as well since Sri Lanka lost by 0-3 against the Indian cricket team.
Dasun Shanaka (0/10): Dasun Shanaka delivered one of the worst performances of his cricket career as he featured in the first two T20 Internationals against the Indian cricket team before being dropped from the third game.
It was hard luck for the batter in the first match as he ended up losing his wicket because of a run-out without facing any ball in the middle. Following the diamond duck, Shanaka failed to improve himself in the second T20I as this time around, he was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi for a golden duck.
All-rounders
Wanindu Hasaranga (4.5/10): Ahead of the three-match series, Wanindu Hasaranga was deemed as the star performer for the Sri Lankan team. However, he failed to live up to the expectations and ended up with just four wickets in three games at an average of 22.75.
Wanindu Hasaranga failed to live up to the expectations with the ball against India
Hasaranga underperformed with the bat as well and his scores in the three matches read 2, 0, and 3 runs respectively.
Chamindu Wickramasinghe (7/10): Chamindu Wickramasinghe made his debut for the Sri Lankan cricket team in the third T20I as he replaced Dasun Shanaka in the Playing XI. In the first innings, Wickramasinghe bowled economically giving away only 17 runs in four overs while taking the prized wicket of Sanju Samson as well.
It was a decent outing for the middle-order batter as he faced only two balls in the middle and ended up scoring not out four runs to help Sri Lanka level the scores while following India’s total of 137 runs in the allotted 20 overs.
Bowlers
Maheesh Theekshana (3/10): It was a relatively average series for Maheesh Theekshana as he bowled a total of ten overs throughout the three matches but ended up with only four wickets at an average of 22.00 and an economy rate of 8.80.
Matheesha Pathirana (8/10): Matheesha Pathirana emerged as the main bowler for Sri Lanka against India as he impressed the who’s who of the cricket fraternity. The seamer delivered one of his best performances during the first T20I as he picked as many as four wickets while conceding 40 runs in his four overs. In total, Pathirana bowled 5.3 overs and dismissed five batters in the series.
Asitha Fernando (4.5/10): Asitha Fernando failed to impress during the three-match T20I series as he picked only two wickets in three matches at an average of 29.00.
Dilshan Madushanka (3.5/10): Dilshan Madushanka was not at his best during the first T20 International against India as he ended up conceding a whopping 45 runs in three overs at an economy rate of 15.
Though the bowler picked up a wicket in the form of Shubman Gill, the alarming economy rate resulted in him getting dropped from the playing XI for the remaining two matches.
Ramesh Mendis (4.5/10): Sri Lanka trusted Ramesh Mendis to replace an out-of-form Dilshan Madushanka as he formed a part of the team for the remaining two T20 Internationals.
He didn’t get a chance to bowl in the second game as rain interrupted the play while the last T20I saw him picking up the wicket of Shivam Dube, who was playing at 13 runs off 14 balls. Mendis conceded 26 runs in three overs at an economy rate of 8.7.