Team India kick-started 2023 on a winning note after debutant Shivam Mavi delivered a dream spell with the ball and rolled out the Men in Blue's path to a thrilling victory over Sri Lanka in the first T20I at the Wankhede Stadium on January 03 (Tuesday). Mavi snared 4/22 on his maiden international game to keep Sri Lankan batters in check while defending a 163-run target. India had to really eke out a 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 the Sri Lanka scare and won the match by two runs.
There were plenty of moments that made the contest gripping to watch as the crowd inside the iconic stadium went berserk more often than not to support the home team. One such moment when the Wankhede crowd was bouncing in unison transpired on the final ball of the seventh over. Express pacer Umran Malik hurried Sri Lanka batter Charith Asalanka with a nippy short delivery and the latter mistimed the attempted pull shot.
The ball went high up in the night sky and it appeared as if no Indian player would be able to complete the catch. Wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan covered several yards and them dived dull length to complete an incredible catch, which not only shocked the fans watching inside the stadium or on television but also captain Hardik Pandya was in complete awe.
Watch the video here:
Earlier, Kishan also played a handy cameo with the bat, scoring 37 runs off 29 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes. In just the first over of the match, the hard-hitting southpaw smacked one six and two fours that energised Wankhede crowd.Â
