Team India started their white-ball tour of Sri Lanka with a comprehensive 43-run victory in the first T20I in Pallekele on Saturday (July 27).

After being put in to bat first, the visitors got off to a dominating start as the duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 off 21) and Shubman Gill (34 off 16) added 74 runs for the opening wicket in just 36 balls.

Batting at No. 3, skipper Suryakumar Yadav slammed a scintillating half-century (58 off 26) while Rishabh Pant returned with 49 off 33 balls to propel the visitors to a massive 213/7 in 20 overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka’s innings folded for 170 in 19.2 overs despite the 84-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. India’s spin troika of Akshar Patel (2/38), Riyan Parag (3/5) and Ravi Bishnoi (1/37) shared six wickets among them.

After the game, former India pacer Ashish Nehra spoke to Jaiswal and left the young opener speechless with his witty remark.

Nehra said if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were still playing the T20I format, then Jaiswal would have been playing all the destructive shots inside the nets instead of the match.

Notably, Rohit and Kohli announced their retirement from the shortest format after India’s T20 World Cup triumph last month, paving the way for the next generation of talented batters.

"Ajay Jadeja asked you what's the difference when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were there (to open in T20Is). According to me, there is just one difference. If Virat and Rohit were still playing this format, then whatever strokes we saw from you today, you would have played those in the nets. Now you are getting to play those shots in the match because they (Virat and Rohit) are not there," Nehra quipped.

Nehra's cheeky comment left everyone in splits and the video clip of the small interaction was shared by Sony Sports Network on social media platform X.