Stats: Lowest Totals Defended In India vs Sri Lanka T20Is

IND vs SL: Lowest totals defended in T20I matches between India and Sri Lanka.

IND vs SL: When a team bats first and fails to achieve a decent start or a finish, more often than not they end up with low totals. With the T20 format being majorly batting-friendly, defending a low total becomes even tougher for the team.

Teams can plan out a chase and select the times when they want to attack, however, while defending a score, they can just rotate the bowlers and hope batters go out of their way to play a faulty shot and get out. 

As we approach the 3-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka, let's have a look at the lowest totals defended in India vs Sri Lanka.

Lowest Totals Defended In India vs West Indies

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#5. India (201/6, Pune 2020)

In the 3rd T20I at Pune, 2020, Sri Lanka put India to bat first and paid heavily for this decision. India posted a mammoth total of 201/6 in 20 overs. Run chases have been so efficient between the two sides that this is the 5th lowest defended between these teams. Sri Lanka were restricted to 123 in 15.5 overs as Navdeep Saini picked up three wickets, while Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar picked up 2 wickets each. Jasprit Bumrah also managed to pick up a wicket and India won the match by 78 runs. 

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#4. India (196/6, Ranchi 2016)

The 2nd T20I in 2016 saw Sri Lanka make yet another wrong decision at the toss of fielding first, as the Indian top-order powered the team to a total of 196/6 in 20 overs. Rohit Sharma (43), Shikhar Dhawan (51), Ajinkya Rahane (25), Suresh Raina (30) and Hardik Pandya (27) contributed towards this total. In reply, Sri Lanka were halted on 127/9 in 20 overs, as India won the match by 69 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 3 wickets in his 4 overs at an economy of 3.50. Ashish Nehra, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah picked up 2 wickets each. 

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#3. India (180/3, 2017)

A rather unforgettable match for the Sri Lankans, in the first T20I at Cuttack in 2017 India posted a total of 180/3 in 20 overs after being put in to bat first. KL Rahul was the top scorer with 61(48) while other top and upper-middle order batters - Rohit Sharma (17), Shreyas Iyer (24), MS Dhoni (39*) & Manish Pandey (32*) contributed. In reply, Sri Lanka were restricted to a meagre total of 87 runs in 16 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal, the player of the match, picked up 4 wickets for 23 runs, Hardik Pandya contributed with 3, Kuldeep Yadav with 2 and Jaydev Unadkat with 1 wicket. 

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#2. India (164/5, Colombo 2021)

In the most recent bilateral series between India and Sri Lanka, India posted a total of 164/5 in the 1st T20I at Colombo in 2021. Suryakumar Yadav and stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan were the notable scorers with 50(34) and 46(36) respectively. In the second half of the match, Bhuvneshwar Kumar displayed his magic as he picked up 4 wickets for 22 runs in his 3.3 overs, and was adjudged the player of the match. Apart from Bhuvneshwar, Deepak Chahar picked up 2 wickets, while Krunal Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya picked up 1 wicket each. 

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#1. India (155/3, Pallekele 2012)

The only T20I at Pallekele in 2012 witnessed the lowest total defended in T20I matches between India and Sri Lanka. India posted 155/3 with the help of a young Virat Kohli's magnificent 68 runs off 48 balls with 11 fours and 1 six. In reply, the hosts were restricted to 116 in 18 overs, as Ashok Dinda remained the highest wicket-taker for India with 4 wickets. While Irfan Pathan picked up 3 very important wickets. Umesh Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin picked 1 wicket each as India won the match by 39 runs.