SL Vs IND 2nd ODI: Indian Pacers Rescue It For India With The Bat, Defeat SL By 3 Wickets, Win Series 2-0

Deepak Chahar was the hero for team India as the 8th wicket partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the difference maker. The commentator rightly called it, "Chahar Ka Keher".

Image: AFP

Colombo: Coach Rahul Dravid will be extremely delighted with the performance of this young team India. India defeated Sri Lanka by 2 wickets and registered a 10th consecutive win in Sri Lanka. India has won the series by 2-0. In a match that looked like going in favour of Sri Lanka was rescued by the Indian lower-order batsmen, Deepak Chahar and Bhuveshwar Kumar. 

The way India chased 263 runs in the previous game, it appeared that India would easily chase down the total of 276. Although it wasn't the case as captain Dasun Shanaka had different plans for the 2nd ODI. Even after the spirited Lankan performance, they were unable to put the finishing touches with the ball. 

Maiden international fifty for @deepak_chahar9! 👏 👏

What a fine knock this has been! 👌 👌 #TeamIndia #SLvIND

Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/HHeGcqGQXM pic.twitter.com/cfQLpIFIXx

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 20, 2021

Match Summary:

After winning the toss, Sri Lanka chose to bat first on a good wicket. The first-wicket partnership of 77 runs was crucial for the Lankans, but the Indian bowlers made a good comeback by constantly chipping away with wickets. The period between over no. 14 and 40 belonged to the Indian bowlers. They picked up 7 wickets without giving away many runs. 

Sri Lanka's final 10 overs went well as they scored 71 runs courtesy of some good hitting by Karunaratne. His 44 and Asalanka's 65 helped SL score to reach 275. 

India had to chase 276 on a good batting pitch. 

Unlike the 1st ODI, Shanaka introduced spinners early in the innings. he leg spinner Hasaranga picked up the wicket of the dangerous Prithvi Shaw and set the tone for the rest of the innings. He also picked up Shikhar Dhawan. Suryakumar Yadav scored a half-century in the middle order and had some good partnerships with Krunal Pandya and Manish Pandey, but nothing that would threaten the Lankans. 

Hasaranga came back in the attack again and picked up the crucial wicket of Krunal Pandya. But that's when the two Indian quicks, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar made a great partnership of 84 runs and sealed the game eventually for India. 

Chahar's 69 runs were the main difference-maker. India has now won the series 2-0. Rahul Dravid - as revealed by Chahar- feel that Deepak is a "Number 7 material".