IND vs SL 1st T20I: Suryakumar, Bhuvneshwar shines in easy India victory

The Indian bowling unit led by Bhuvneshar Kumar nicely matched Suryakumar Yadav's spectacular run with the bat as the visitors dominated Sri Lanka by 38 runs in the first T20 International on Sunday.

If Surya's second T20 International half-century — an appealing 50 off 34 balls — ensured a respectable total of 164 for 5, Yuzvendra Chahal (1/19 in 4 overs), Deepak Chahar (2/24 in 3 overs), and Bhuvneshwar (4/22 in 3.3 overs) oozed class, bowling the hosts out for 126 in 18.3 overs.

Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for only 15 runs after reaching 111/4 in the 16th over.

Chahal gave his best in what will be his final international tryout before the T20 World Cup in front of IPL star and debutant mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who, according to rumour, may be the Indian team management's choice for the marquee tournament.

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Chahal not only dislodged Dhanajaya de Silva with 10 dots apart from the 'jaffa delivery,' but he also bowled a magnificent 15th over that transformed the game for India with only three runs conceded.

Dhawan brought Krunal Pandya (1/16 in 2 overs), who soon dismissed Minod Bhanuka after a frantic start in the first two overs. Chahal bowled the match's best delivery, a flighted delivery foxing Dhananjaya de Silva (9) to play inside the line to get castled.

Avishka Fernando (26) suffered the price for the slowness of the track when he tried to pull Bhuvneshwar.

Charith Asalanka (44 off 26 balls) had different plans as he launched himself at opposing youngster Chakravarthy (1/28 in 4 overs), scorching him for two sixes into cow corner while his partner Ashen Bandara (9 off 19 balls) struggled at the other end.

Hardik Pandya's slow off-break (1/17 in 2 overs) ended Bandara's agony, but Asalanka kept Sri Lanka in contention with some powerful hits before being dismissed by Chahar.

Earlier, Suryakumar maintained his excellent form, with skipper Shikhar Dhawan (46 off 38 balls) and Ishan Kishan (20 not out off 14 balls) providing crucial support at the back-end.

Dhawan and Surya contributed 62 runs in eight overs to give India a great start, but the latter's departure cost India at least 20 runs.

However, observing the pair, it was clear that the junior partner was batting with more confidence, having already secured his spot in the T20 World Cup team, whereas the skipper appears to be waging a lost battle to get inside that jam-packed top-order in the main squad.

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Despite four more boundaries and a six from Akila Dananjaya over deep midwicket, the innings looked weak.

Surya's five fours and a six were crucial in launching Kishan and Hardik's last assault.

Dushmantha Chammera's (2/24 in 4 overs) outswinger found the edge of Prithvi Shaw's bat from the very first delivery, giving him a disappointing T20 International debut.

Before Wanindu Hasaranga (2/28 in 4 overs) trapped him with a googly, Sanju Samson (27 off 20 balls) smashed his typical six while batting like a king.

Surya was free-flowing as usual, hitting those whiplash on-drives, cover drives, and ramp shots that are a sight to behold against both pacers and spinners.

Surya's ability to pick all those back-of-the-hand slower deliveries from seamers Isuru Udana and Chamika Karunaratne was thrilling.

Udana was dismissed for a boundary with a classic sweep shot, while Karunaratne was slog swept for a six.

His dismissal did give India a chance to score more than 175 runs.