(B) Impressed With Cheers Of Rohit Sharma At Palekelle As India Defeats Sri Lanka

[WATCH] Chants Of Rohit Sharma In Palekelle As India Beat Sri Lanka

Rohit Sharma is one of the most popular cricketers in the world and definitely in India. His fanbase is crazy and he is seen as a star figure in the whole country. He is currently India’s captain in ODI and Test cricket. Just a month ago, he led India to a title win in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 without losing any game. Sharma also led India to the final of the ICC ODI World Cup 202 without losing any game. After the T20 World Cup win, his fandom has gone to yet another level. However, he has announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game.

[WATCH] Chants Of Rohit Sharma In Palekelle As India Beat Sri Lanka

However, Sharma was still popular in the Palekelle crowd as a new look Indian team faced off against Sri Lanka in the first T20I. There were chants of Rohit, Rohit in the stadium even though he is not part of the T20Is any more.

The Gautam Gambhir era has begun. India are in Sri Lanka to feature in the 3-game T20I series, followed by the 3-game ODI series. Suryakumar Yadav is the new T20I captain of the side after Rohit Sharma retired from the shortest format after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. In the first T20I at Pallekele, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first. India was off to a fast start from their openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and vice-captain Shubman Gill.

India scored 213 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs. Jaiswal scored 40 runs off 21 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Gill complemented him with 34 runs off 16 balls with 6 fours and one six. Captain Suryakumar Yadav smashed 58 runs off 26 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. Rishabh Pant struggled with the bat but scored 49 runs off 33 balls.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka had a fantastic start to their chase. They were 140-1 at one stage but ended up all out for 170 runs. India have beaten Sri Lanka by 43 runs in the first T20I. Pathum Nissanka scored 79 runs off 48 balls, Kusal Mendis scored 45 runs off 27 balls, Kusal Perera scored 20 runs off 14 balls. Arshdeep Singh picked up 2 wickets, Mohammed Siraj picked up 1 wicket, Axar Patel picked up 2 wickets, Ravi Bishnoi picked up 1 wicket and Riyan Parag picked up 3 wickets.