IND in SL: Suryakumar Yadav shows the way as India scores commanding total against Sri Lanka in first T20I

India tour of Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka vs India first Twenty20 International in Pallekele on July 27, 2024.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav was swift and brutal in equal measure on his first day in office as the Indian top-order plundered Sri Lankan bowling to post a commanding 213 for 7 in the opening T20I if the three-match series in Pallekele on July 27.

In his first match as permanent skipper of India's T20 team, Suryakumar made a firm statement with a sparkling 58 off 26 balls, maintaining his aggressive approach that made him world's premier batter.

While Surya was at his dominant best while hitting eight fours and two sixes en route his 20th half-century, the foundation for a big score was laid by young stars Yashasvi Jaiswal (41 off 20 balls) and Shubman Gill (34 off 15 balls) in a 74-run opening stand in the powerplay.

Rishabh Pant (49 off 33 balls) struggled initially but did well to end just one short of half-century with some audacious shots both in-front and behind the square.

If Jaiswal's approach was a bit on muscular side, Gill showed his artistry bleeding the Lankans with thousand cuts.

The refreshing part was Gill's approach in the very first game under new coach where he didn't exactly employ the safety first approach.

Jaiswal whipped the very first delivery of the match by Dilshan Madushanka while Gill followed the suit with back-to-back cuts to start in earnest with a 13-run over.