Skipper Shikhar Dhawan showered rich praise on India’s young batters after the team’s emphatic seven-wicket victory in the first ODI in Colombo, saying Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan effectively finished the chase in 15 overs.
Chasing 263 to win, Shaw provided India with a flying start, smashing 43 off just 24 balls including 9 boundaries. After his dismissal, debutant Kishan took the Lankan attack to the cleaners, hitting 59 off 42 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes.
On the other hand, Dhawan held the one end firmly and stayed unbeaten on 86 off 95 balls to take the visitors over the line with 80 deliveries to spare.
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“When we batted, it was great to watch Prithvi and Ishan from the other end. I was telling them to take it easy, it’s a great strength to have them. The way the young boys play IPL, get so much exposure, their confidence level is very high," Dhawan said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“The way Prithvi and Ishan batted, they finished the game in first 15 overs. After that we were just knocking around. I thought about it (his hundred) but there were not many runs left. So the focus was on being not out. Even when Surya came in and batted, it looked so easy. I was like maybe I have to improve my skill," he added.
Earlier, India restricted Sri Lanka to 262/9 in 50 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal (2-52), Kuldeep Yadav (2-48) and Deepak Chahar (2-37) bowled economically and bagged two scalps each while Krunal Pandya chipped in with a wicket by conceding only 26 runs in his 10 overs.
Hailing his bowlers, Dhawan said: “All our boys, most of them have played earlier. They’re very mature and aggressive. Very happy with the way they played, it was tremendous. Knew that wicket has a bit of turn but the way our spinners bowled from 10th over, they got us back straightaway. All three spinners, Chahal, Kuldeep and Krunal."
With this victory, India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The second game will be played at the same venue on Tuesday (July 20).
