Highlights:
- Shikhar Dhawan-led Indian team dismantled Sri Lanka in the first ODI on Sunday
- Team India defeated Sri Lanka by 7 wickets
- Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra hits back at Ranatunga
Team India which is being led by Shikhar Dhawan dismantled Sri Lanka in the first One Day International (ODI) on Sunday, picking up an easy 7-wicket win with an all-round performance. Before the limited-over series began, the former Sri Lankan legend Arjuna Ranatunga had termed the current Indian team in Sri Lanka as a “second-string”.
The former skipper of the Sri Lankans team had slammed the Sri Lanka cricket board for allowing a “second-string” Indian side to tour their country, saying it is an “insult” to the hosts. His comments did not go down too well with a number of experts and pundits and Ranatunga received a lot of flak for his words.
And when team India won the first ODI with a bang, former Indian cricketer, Aakash Chopra took a dig at Ranatunga.
While reviewing the first One Day in the video video uploaded on his YouTube channel, former India batsman Chopra praised India’s performance and said that it was a solid response to Ranatunga.
In the video, Chopra said, “Did you take it to heart? Arjuna Ranatunga had said that a second-string team had been sent and that it was an insult to them. 262 runs are not that few that you win the match like this by seven wickets and 15 overs are left”.
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The cricketer-turned commentator lauded team India’s batting and observed that they changed the atmosphere.
Chopra added, “The young Indian team showed how to silence the hosts. The atmosphere has changed a little. The whole way of demolishing, absolutely annihilating the opposition, destructive.”
Sri Lanka set the visitors a target of 263 overs and the Indian openers hit it well as Prithvi Shaw scored 43 off 24 balls and skipper Shikhar Dhawan scoring an unbeaten 86 of 95.
The debutant Ishan Kishan also hit a half century with 59 off 42 and starred in the chase as the “Men in Blue” conquered the score in just 36.4 overs with seven wickets to spare.
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The second ODI will take place on Tuesday, July 20, at the same venue
Watch the video here: