Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl on a dew-laden Barabati Stadium, but proved no match to India as they were bundled out for a paltry 87 while chasing 181 yesterday.
After Rahul left the job unfinished getting out for 61, Dhoni played the finisher's role to perfection with a 22-ball 39 not out with four boundaries and a six to lift India to 180 for 3.
Rohit also complimented opener KL Rahul, who struck a classy 61 and Manish Pandey (32 not out) for giving Dhoni company in the middle that powered India to 180 for three, a score which they defended by 93 runs.
Opening the batting, KL Rahul struck a quick 61 off 48 balls before leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (4/23) triggered Sri Lanka's collapse to help India register a convincing win by 93 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series in Cuttack.
The 93-run win over Sri Lanka in Cuttack is India's biggest win in T20 Internationals, bettering the previous record of 90-run victory over England in Colombo in September 2012.
India vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I: Opener KL Rahul struck an important half-century and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal bagged a four-for as India beat Sri Lanka by 93 runs in the first T20I to take the 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Cuttack.
The latest pacer to come from Kerala, Thampi had a perfect IPL debut for Gujarat Lions, taking 11 wickets in 12 games with a best of 3/29 to bag the coveted 'Emerging Player 2017' award.
Live Cricket Score of India vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I: Watch IND vs SL live cricket streaming online at hotstar.com and Live TV Coverage by Star Sports Network.
From being ordinary in the Test series, Sri Lanka caught India off the guard with a surprise bowling effort in the first One-day International in Dharamsala, but could not capitalise on the momentum and lost the three-match series 1-2.
With star skipper Virat Kohli being rested, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian squad has three uncapped players - Basil Thampi, Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar while the likes of Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Siraj are also low on experience.
After winning the Test and ODI series, the men in blue will be aiming to extend their dominance against the Islanders in the shortest format as well by winning the three-match T20I series as well starting on Wednesday in Cuttack.
After a rather forgettable year for the Lankans in ODIs in 2017, Pothas said the players haven not learnt fast enough.
Of late, Ashwin and Jadeja, who are Test regulars, have lost out their places to Kuldeep and Chahal in India's limited overs side.
Rohit feels the young lot of cricketers in the team are ready for the tough battles ahead.
Shikhar Dhawan scored his 12th ODI hundred as India beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets with 107 balls remaining in the third and final one-day international on Sunday in Vizag. India won the three-match series 2-1.
India beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in Vizag to win their sixth ODI series of the year and eighth in a row since July 2016.
Tharanga has scored 1,011 runs from 25 matches and an equal number of innings at an average of 48.14.
3rd ODI: Shikhar Dhawan smashed a brilliant hundred to help India clinch their eighth straight series victory in ODI cricket by defeating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in Visakhapatnam.
Live Cricket Score, India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI: Watch IND vs SL live cricket streaming online at Hotstar.com and Live Coverage on TV by Star Sports Network.
Perera said the team had a couple of training sessions and prepared well and they were taking it like just another game.
Top News
Latest News
