With a 4-wicket win in Kolkata in the 2nd ODI over Sri Lanka, India seal another home bilateral series taking an unassailable 2-0 lead with one game to be played.
Kuldeep Yadav, playing at the home ground of his former IPL team KKR, conjured magic with his wrist spin and dismissed three Sri Lankan batters to dent the visiting middle-order. Kuldeep’s three-wicket haul, with that of Siraj too, along with Umran Malik’s brace and Axar Patel’s solitary wicket meant India bowled Sri Lanka out for 215.
What looked like a straightforward chase and victory for India at the halfway stage was made really tricky after India lost their top 4 for 86 runs as Sri Lanka roared back in the game.
However, with plenty of time in hand, and an under-par target at sight, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya took their time to drag the chase with 75 (119) before Pandya (36) and Axar (21) were dismissed. KL Rahul, though, sent a strong message to all his doubters and detractors, by scoring a gritty 64* off 103 balls with 6 fours and taking India over the finish line.
WATCH: Virat Kohli gives a priceless reaction to Shami hitting Karunaratne with a bounce
During Sri Lanka’s innings, seamer Mohammed Shami decided to give some chin music to batter Chamika Karunaratne as he hurled down a few ferocious short balls. To one of those short balls, Karunaratne, in an attempt to save his face with head down, tackled the ball with gloves first while skipping in his crease.
The intensity was there between two passionate competitors in Shami and Karunaratne, and the crowd went buzzing when even Virat Kohli joined in with a fiery reaction.
Here, check out:
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After the win, skipper Rohit Sharma was effusive in praise for Man of the Match Kuldeep Yadav.
“For him (Kuldeep Yadav) to come back and play the game he played today, it was fantastic. Literally got us back in the game. They were batting run-a-ball and Kuldeep, as we’ve seen quite often, comes and gets the wicket. He’s quite confident as a bowler right now and it definitely augurs well with the team,” Rohit said.
