IND vs SL 2022-23, 1st T20I: Hooda and Mavi on target as India barely draws first blood; netizens roar

By Ayush GuptaFirst Published Jan 3, 2023, 11:08 PM IST
Highlights

IND vs SL 2022-23: India gave Sri Lanka a hard time in the opening Mumbai T20I on Tuesday, winning by a couple of runs. While Deepak Hooda and Shivam Mavi were on target, netizens were vocal about it.

It turned out to be a gripping contest between India and Sri Lanka in the opening Twenty20 International (T20I) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. After a final-ball thriller, the hosts came out on top, barely escaping with success by just a couple of runs. While Deepak Hooda was the star with the bat, with Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel contributing, debutant pacer Shivam Mavi impressed in his maiden T20I outing, grabbing a fifer. In the meantime, following the triumph, the netizens roared and were engraved by Mavi's exotic display on debut.

Terrfic captaincy by Hardik Pandya👌

Great start to the year for team India.

Well done Shivam Mavi ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kRZQ8MDIHK

— DK (@DineshKarthik)

Winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to field, while India handed the debut cap to Subman Gill and Mavi. The hosts were off to a disturbing start, losing a couple for 38 by the sixth over of the PowerPlay (PP), and were 46/3 by the seventh. While Kishan (37) and Hardik Pandya (29) put on a 31-run stand for the fourth wicket, the former was dismissed by leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in the 11th.

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A home World Cup year starts with India beating Sri Lanka at the Wankhede.. pic.twitter.com/op6PHhoLQ6

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)

As Pandya was the fifth wicket to fall in the 15th to pacer Dilshan Madushanka at 94, Hooda (41*) and Axar (31*) took charge of the remainder of the innings, playing and hitting their shots at will, contributing to a 68-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with India finishing at 162/5.

Some 🤩 four your night!
Courtesy : Mavi 🔥 🦁💛
📸 : pic.twitter.com/0MOsrQlo8x

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)

It was a consolidated bowling effort for the Lankans, with five bowling claiming a wicket each, while Hasaranga was the most economical. In reply, they began on a troubling note, too, losing a couple for 24 by the fourth over of the PP, thanks to pacer Mavi. Some 20-odd-run partnerships occurred between the incoming batters, but the tumbling wickets did not allow them to build a solid stand.

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🤩 DREAM DEBUT! What a night Shivam Mavi had on his debut. He ends his spell with a 4-fer!

👏 Top stuff, Shivam!

📷 BCCI • pic.twitter.com/KsYaN5q1dF

— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy)

Although the visitors still managed to put on a fight, putting the opponent on its toes, with 13 needed off the final over, the pressures still turned out to be too much, especially with leg-spinner Axar bowling, who managed to restrict them a couple of runs short. For the Men in Blue, Mavi shone outright, scalping four wickets, while fellow pacer Pandya was heavily economical.
Brief scores: IND 162/5 (Kishan- 37, Hooda- 41*, Axar- 31; de Silva- 1/6) defeated SL 160 (Shanaka- 45; Mavi- 4/22) by two runs.

Bowling spinner the last over wasn’t ideal but Ant bhala to Sab bhala. Well done team india.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
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