India chased down 263 in just 36.4 overs against Sri Lanka in Colombo to equal the record for the most ODI wins (92) against a single opponent in the format with Australia and Pakistan.
India-led by Shikhar Dhawan broke a number of records on Sunday after beating hosts island nation Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo.
India Chased Down 263 In Just 36.4 Overs
India chased down the target of 263 in just 36.4 overs to equal the record for the most ODIs wins (92) against a single opponent in the format. Australia and Pakistan also occupy the joint-top spot on this list with 92 wins each against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, respectively.
Shikhar Dhawan, who led for the first time in international cricket, top-scored for the visitors while Ishan Kishan and Prithvi Shaw played the supporting roles with quick-fire 59 and 43, respectively.
Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 86 in a successful run chase saw him go past Ajit Wadekar on the list of the highest scores by Indian batsmen in their very first innings as ODI captain. Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with his 110 against the Lankans at this very venue in 1996 while Ajit Wadekar now occupies the third spot with 67 against England at Headingley (Leeds) in 1974.
Shikhar Dhawan also became the sixth Indian to score more than 50 runs on his ODI captaincy debut. He went past 6,000 ODIs runs and completed 1000 runs against Sri Lanka during his match-winning knock but still wasn’t adjudged Player of the Match with that award going to Prithvi Shaw for his 24-ball cameo which set the pace of the chase in the powerplay.
Ishan Kishan Hits A Fifty On His Birthday And ODI Debut
Ishan Kishan’s 33-ball fifty was also the second-fastest by an Indian batsman playing his maiden ODI innings. He had started his knock with a six off the very first ball he faced in the format. Just four Indians had managed to hit a fifty on their birthday before Ishan Kishan but he is the only one to achieve the feat on his ODI debut.
The number 25 was widely used during the series opener between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday. Shikhar Dhawan and Dasun Shanaka both became the respective countries’ 25th ODI captains respectively, while debutants Ishan Kishan and Minod Bhanuka also became the 25th wicketkeepers to represent their countries in this format.
This was the Men in Blue’s ninth successive win in Sri Lanka. The Men in Blue are the only side in the world to register more wins than losses against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka – 29 wins & 27 losses in 62 ODIs. India has won 14 of their previous 16 ODIs against the islanders.
Sri Lanka had posted a total of 262/9 in 50 overs. Chamika Karunaratne top-scored for SL with 43 runs while Deepak Chahar (2/37) had the best figures for India. India defeated beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. It was a dominant display by the Indian batsmen as they reached the target of 263 runs in 36.4 overs. Shikhar Dhawan stayed unbeaten on 86 while Suryakumar Yadav (31*) supported him in the end.