India vs Sri Lanka 2023

After winning the toss, Rohit said India have brought in off-spin all-rounder Washington Sundar and in-form batter Suryakumar Yadav in place of rested duo of Hardik Pandya and Umran Malik, which means India have three frontline spinners and two fast-bowling options.

"See, pace is pace and on wickets where there isn't much spark, then the pace will be helpful for a team and can shake up opposition batters. But it needs to be seen how an important player like him can be nurtured and make him play the right way with ample rest so that he serves team and country very well and keep him safe from being injured," R.P. Singh said in a virtual interaction organised by Sports18.

But Rahul stood tall in an under-pressure situation to slam a gutsy unbeaten 64 off 103 balls and take India over the line for an unassailable 2-0 series lead. He stitched a crucial 75-run partnership off 119 balls with Hardik Pandya, before putting stands of 30 and 28 not out with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav for hunting down the total with 40 balls to spare.

In his 64 not out at Kolkata, Rahul played out 60 dot balls and hit six sixes, while taking 34 singles and three twos. India's run-rate in chasing 216 was never an issue, thanks to an early rush of boundaries. But this was a knock where Rahul had to be cautious and then open up with a calm head to get India over the line, something which is needed of a number five batter in ODIs during a tricky situation.

After Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj picked three wickets each to bundle out Sri Lanka for 215, the visitors' bowlers reduced India to 86/4. But Rahul kept his calm and batted sensibly under pressure to make an unbeaten 64 off 103 balls, and struck a crucial 75-run partnership with Hardik Pandya to take India over the line with 40 balls to spare, giving the hosts' a series win.

In the first ten overs, Siraj was wayward as he struggled to get a consistent line and length. But soon got the breakthrough for India to castle Avishka Fernando through the gate. He would come back later to get Dunith Wellalage and Lahiru Kumara out in the first four balls of the 40th over to end Sri Lanka's innings at 215 and finish with 3/30 in 5.4 overs.

The 23-year-old achieved the milestone in the 14th over of the Sri Lankan innings. He picked 3/57 in his eight overs and acted as the middle overs enforcer for India. Recently, Umran had surpassed Jasprit Bumrah (153.6 kmph) to bowl the fastest delivery in international cricket by an Indian after clocking 155 kmph delivery in the first T20I against Sri Lanka