Tripathi made his international debut in the second T20I and scored 5 runs before bouncing back in a big way in the third game with a blistering 35 off just 16 balls.
After defeating Sri Lanka by 91 runs in the series-deciding match on Saturday in Rajkot, India won the three-game T20I series 2-1. After Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 112 helped the hosts post a massive total of 228/5 in 20 overs, the Hardik Pandya-led side cruised to victory. In response, the Indian bowling team as a whole rose to the challenge and bowled the visitors out for just 137 runs. In addition to Suryakumar, Saturday’s match included the debut of batter Rahul Tripathi, who immediately became a fan favorite.
Tripathi, making his international debut in the second T20I, was dismissed for just 5 runs, but he bounced back spectacularly in the third game, scoring 35 runs in just 16 balls. After Ishan Kishan was run out in the first over, the 31-year-old batter stepped up to the plate. Tripathi has made no secret of his offensive intentions since his arrival, smashing Dilshan Madushanka and Mahesh Theekshana for consecutive boundaries. On the other hand, his sixes off of Chamika Karunaratne’s bowling had everyone in stitches.
Both of Tripathi’s sixes came in the sixth over of the innings, which Karunaratne bowled. Both of the sixes dropped unerringly to the floor.
But on the very next delivery, Karunaratne made amends when Madushanka took a spectacular catch to dismiss Tripathi for 35.
In the third and deciding Twenty20 International, India defeated Sri Lanka with the help of a dominant performance from Suryakumar, who once again proved his prowess in the shortest format with a brilliant century.
For his third T20I century, Suryakumar hit an incredible 112 not out off 51 balls, propelling India to a mammoth total and making life simpler for his bowlers. He played about with the Sri Lankan bowlers throughout the game, scoring his third century in the format by slamming fours and sixes all over the field.
The Indian bowlers were thereafter dominant, restricting Sri Lanka to 137 and winning the series 2-1.
