Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
“India have thumped Sri Lanka yet again.”
That’s been a familiar tale in 2017.
Since Sri Lanka’s shock thrashing of India in the first ODI just a week-and-a-half ago, India have delivered three hammer-blows (two in the ODIs and one in the T20Is) to leave Sri Lanka’s confidence at rock-bottom.
The big difference this time is that India were without a few of its biggest stars, not just Virat Kohli. Sri Lanka were presented with an opportunity in the 1st T20I to win against an inexperienced India team, but they seemed weighed down by expectation, and this just sums up their very disappointing 2017.
Here is a statistical analysis of the 1st T20I in Cuttack:
Biggest ever win in T20Is
No Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar? No problem. India still managed to achieve their biggest ever win in T20Is.
The margin of 93 runs eclipsed India’s previous biggest margin – 90 runs, which was over England at the World T20 in 2012.
Interestingly, India’s record in T20Is in 2017 before this game was six wins and four losses, which suggested that they have been most vulnerable in this format. With this win, they move to seven wins for the year, and two of these wins sit in their three biggest wins ever (India beat England by 75 runs in Bangalore in February).
Biggest loss ever in T20Is
Joy for India, more despair for Sri Lanka.
While India achieved their biggest win in the format, Sri Lanka endured their biggest loss. The previous worst, which was an 86 run-defeat v Australia in 2016, lasted only a year-and-a-half.
Where to now for Sri Lanka? Do they make changes for the 2nd T20I or do they keep persisting with players who have contributed to an awful 2017?
Plenty to think about.
Six straight defeats for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka began the year in brilliant fashion, winning series in both South Africa and Australia.
Since beating Australia to go 2-0 up in that series on the 19th of February, which was their fourth win in a row at the time, Sri Lanka have won just one from their last eight T20Is, including losing their last six. They are now only one loss away from equalling their worst ever run in T20Is, which was set only last year (7 matches).
Leading wicket taker in T20Is in 2017
Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4/23 not only propelled him to the Man-of-the-Match award, but also the most wickets in 2017. He has taken 19 wickets in just 10 games.
In the process, he went past Rashid Khan (17 wickets in 10 games for Afghanistan) and Kesrick Williams (17 wickets in 9 games for West Indies). All signs point to even more wickets for Yuzvendra in the 2nd and 3rd T20Is against a struggling Sri Lanka outfit.
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