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Hardik Pandya's brigade earned a two-run victory over Sri Lanka in a thrilling first T20I of the three-match series on Tuesday (January 3), thanks to Shivam Mavi's exceptional four-wicket hall which came on his India debut in the shortest format of the game.
Mavi snared 4/22 on his T20I debut to keep Sri Lankan batters in check, who were chasing a 163-run target. However, India had to really eke out the win in the neck-to-neck encounter which could have gone either way had Axar Patel failed to defend 13 runs in the last over. India survived Sri Lanka scare and won the match by two runs.
Meanwhile, India skipper Hardik Pandya, who struck a decent 29 off 27 and followed it up with a brilliant three-over spell while conceding just 12 runs, said in a post match conference that he is eager to see how his team tackles difficult situations as he seeks to mould it into an outfit capable of ending the country's barren run in world events.
"We might lose a game here and there but it's alright. I want to put this team in difficult situations because it will help us in big games. Bilaterals we are very good at and this is how we are going to challenge ourselves.
"To be honest, all the young guns got us out of the situation today. The conversation was very simple, I have seen him (Mavi) bowl well in the IPL and I know what are his strengths, just back yourself and don't worry about getting hit.
"I just told him to simply bowl. I told him, 'I am backing you. Even if you get hit, it's fine.' If the same situation is there, I will take the new ball."
He added, "I have been bowling in the nets with the new ball since I returned in the IPL. I have learnt how to swing it back." Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said the visitors ought to have won the game.
Hardik had to leave the field for a brief while after taking a catch.
“It is just cramps. Now I have tendency to scare people. I did not sleep well, did not drink enough water and hence the glutes were stiff. I was unwell and I had my fluids down,” Hardik said at the presentation ceremony.
At one point it looked like Sri Lankan will take away the game from India but Mavi's kept providing breakthroughs whenever team required which staged the turn around in favour of the hosts. The valiant knocks from skipper Dasun Shanaka (45 off 27) and Chamika Karunaratne (23 not out off 16) couldn't save the visitors from going down to India as Sri Lanka were bundled out for 160 in the stipulated 20 overs. Notably, this is the lowest total India defend at Wankhede.
India and Sri Lanka will play the second T20I on January 5.
