India tour of Sri Lanka: Suryakumar Yadav’s half-century sets up comfortable win in first T20I

New captain Suryakumar Yadav hit an attacking half-century to set up a dominant 43-run victory for India in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Suryakumar, 33, hammered 58 off 26 balls at Kandy's Pallekele in his first match as T20 skipper with India beginning a new era in the format after its T20 World Cup triumph last month.

India posted 213/7 and then bowled out the hosts for 170, after spinner Axar Patel struck twice in one over including the key wicket of Pathum Nissanka for 79.

India have made a fresh start to T20 cricket after long-term stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirements from the format following their World Cup win in Barbados.

Suryakumar, who was picked as leader ahead of Hardik Pandya – Rohit Sharma's deputy in the World Cup – put on a key stand of 76 with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who smashed 49.

Fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana took four wickets, including Suryakumar and Pant, but could not stop India from crossing 200 after a sloppy fielding effort by the home team.

Charith Asalanka was appointed new Sri Lanka T20 skipper following their early exit in the T20 World Cup and elected to field first after he won the toss.

Both Sri Lanka and India...

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