KL Rahul's half-century innings captures India's series, defeats Sri Lanka by 4 wickets

IND vs SL: India has won another ODI series from Sri Lanka. Team India defeated Sri Lanka by 4 wickets in the second match of the 3 match series. With this victory, India has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-ODI series. The last match will be played in Thiruvananthapuram on January 15.

The Indian team has defeated Sri Lanka in the tenth consecutive series.

The Sri Lankan team was all out for 215 runs in 39.4 overs at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. Nuanidu Fernando (50), playing his debut match, played a half-century innings. Wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Mendis was dismissed after scoring 34 runs and Vanindu Hasaranga after scoring 21 runs. Avishka Fernando scored 20 runs. Captain Dasun Shanaka could score only 2 runs. For India, spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammad Siraj took 3-3 wickets. While fast bowler Umran Malik got 2 wickets.

In response to 215 runs, the Indian team scored the required runs in the 44th over to win by 6 wickets. KL Rahul scored 64 runs from his side. While vice-captain Hardik Pandya played an inning of 36 runs. Both added 75 runs for the 5th wicket. At one time the Indian team had lost 4 wickets for 86 runs. But, Pandya and Rahul pulled the team out of a difficult situation.

Sri Lanka's Lahiru Kumara and Chamika Karunaratne got 2-2 wickets. While Kasun Rajitha got a breakthrough.

The first ODI of the series was defeated by Team India by 67 runs. The Indian team is ahead 1-0 in the series.

This is how the wickets of Team India fell.

First: On the last ball of the 5th over, captain Rohit Sharma was caught by Kusal Mendis behind the wicket off Chamika Karunaratne.

Second: Shubman Gill was caught by Avishka Fernando off Lahiru Kumara in the sixth over.

Third: Virat Kohli was bowled by Lahiru Kumara in the 10th over. He scored 4 runs.

Fourth: Shreyas Iyer was made LBW by Kasun Rajitha on the second ball of the 15th over.

Fifth: On the first ball of the 35th over, Chamika Karunaratne got Hardik Pandya caught by Kusal Mendis.

Sixth: In the 40th over, Dhananjay de Silva got Akshar Patel caught by Chamika Karunaratne.

Pandya-Rahul handled

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul handled the Indian innings. There was a 75-run partnership for the 5th wicket between the two in 119 balls. At one time Team India had lost four wickets at 86. In such a situation, Pandya-Rahul took Team India's score to 160.

Sri Lankan team limited to 215

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first at the Eden Gardens ground in Kolkata. The team got all out for 215 runs in 39.4 overs. Nuanidu Fernando (50), playing a debut match for Sri Lanka, played a half-century innings. Wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 34 and Vanindu Hasaranga scored 21 runs. Avishka Fernando scored 20 runs. Captain Dasun Shanaka could score only 2 runs.

For the Indian team, spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammad Siraj took 3-3 wickets. While fast bowler Umran Malik got 2 wickets.

Nuanidu Fernando's half-century in debut match

Nuanidu Fernando, playing the debut match, scored the first international half-century. He completed his half-century in 63 balls. His innings included 6 fours.

Sri Lankan wickets fell like this

First: Mohammad Siraj bowled Avishka Fernando on the last ball of the sixth over.

Second: Kuldeep made Kusal Mendis LBW on the last ball of the 17th over.

Third: On the second ball of the 18th over, Akshar Patel bowled Dhananjay de Silva.

Fourth: Nuanidu Fernando was run out on the first ball of the 22nd over. He was dismissed by Gill-Rahul.

Fifth: Kuldeep Yadav bowled Dasun Shanaka on the 5th ball of the 23rd over.

Sixth: On the second ball of the 25th over, Kuldeep caught and bowled Charith Aslanka.

Seventh: Akshar Patel caught at backward point on Umran Malik's ball.

Eighth: Karunaratne was caught at point by Akshar off Umran.

Ninth: Siraj got Dunith Velalge caught by Akshar Patel.

Tenth: Siraj bowled Lahiru Kumara on the 4th ball of the 40th over.

Kuldeep gets a chance in place of Chahal

There has been a change in India's playing-11. Leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is not fully fit. Kuldeep Yadav has been given a chance in his place.

Playing-11 of both the teams

India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Akshar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Umran Malik, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav.

Sri Lanka: Nuanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Aslanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Vanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Velage, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara.