MUMBAI: India won a dramatic first T20I against Sri Lanka by the narrowest of margins, with only two runs separating the sides in a low-scoring thriller here at the Wankhede Stadium.
Chasing 163 for a win, Sri Lanka seemed to be comfortably within reach at the halfway stage, but a spirited showing by India's bowlers, including a four-wicket haul on debut by pacer Shivam Mavi, tilted things India's way.
India's bowlers began well in the Powerplay but Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, along with Hasaranga and Karunaratne, engineered a counter-attack until Axar Patel sealed things for India in the final over.
Earlier, asked to take first strike by Sri Lanka on Tuesday night, India seemed to have their backs to the wall when they lost half their side for 94 in the 15th over on a tacky wicket where the ball seemed to be gripping a bit.
However, just when it seemed the hosts would end up with far less than they would've settled forinitially, Deepak Hooda (41 not out; 23b, 1x4, 6x6) and Axar Patel (31 not out; 20b, 3x4, 1x6) came out all guns blazing, scripting India's superb fightback with a brilliant, unbeaten 36-ball alliance that fetched 68 runs.
The Hooda-Patel show saw India finish at a far more comfortable 162/5 on pitch which clearly isn't a typical Wankhede batting paradise. Triggering the assault by going after the Lankan spinners, who had tied the Indian batsmen in knots by then, Hooda smashed three sixes in the final 5 overs, two of them off consecutive balls in the 16th over off Maheesh Theekshana, to prove his worth to the side.
1/9:Paceman Shivam Mavi shines on T20I debut
2/9:Dream debut for Mavi!
<p>Pace sensation Shivam Mavi made a dream T20I debut for India as he picked up 4/22 to guide India to a thrilling 2-run win in the first T20I against Sri Lanka.</p>
3/9:Third best figures in an innings on debut for India
<p>Mavi's figures of 4/22 are the third best figures in an innings on debut for India. Barinder Sran (4/10) sits atop on the list followed by Pragyan Ojha (4/21).</p>
4/9:Four-wicket haul for Mavi
<p>Mavi got rid of Lankan batters Pathum Nissanka, Dhanajaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana in his four-wicket haul.</p>
5/9:Mavi bought for Rs 6 crore by Titans in IPL auction
<p>Mavi was bought by defending champions Gujarat Titans for Rs 6 crore at the IPL 2023 auction in December 2022.</p>
6/9:Mavi's maiden call-up
<p>Mavi earned his maiden call-up to India's T20I squad four days after being bought by 2022 IPL champions Gujarat Titans.</p>
7/9:Member of India’s 2018 U-19 World Cup winning squad
<p>Mavi, who was released by Kolkata Knight Riders after an ordinary IPL 2022, was part of India’s 2018 U-19 World Cup winning squad.</p>
8/9:Five wickets in six games for KKR in IPL 2022
<p>Mavi managed just five wickets in six games at an economy rate of 10.31 in IPL 2022.</p>
9/9:Mavi's fine run in Mushtaq Ali trophy
<p>Playing for Uttar Pradesh, Mavi took ten wickets in seven games at an economy rate of 6.64 in the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy.</p>At the other end, Axar, who was preferred over Washington Sundar in the allrounder's slot, flicked left-arm pacer Dilshan Madhushanka for a six and then smashed him through extra cover for a four to get 15 off the 19th over. The Hooda-Axar flourish, which delighted the 25,000 strong crowd, made up for the disappointment of watching some of the top batsmen flatter to deceive.
