Ind SL T20 1 Fulltime: India Succumb After Gambhir's Half Century

The gauntlet was thrown for one. There was pride to be regained for another. But all it takes is concentrated effort and also, a consolidating effort, that did not come for India.
One may feel like the end was a bit anti climatic. After all, India’s loss was by twenty-nine runs. It is a lot in Twenty20, but that it could be achieved still remained in the realm of possibility.
That was made possible by the hope generated by the opening partnership as also by the half century from Gautam Gambhir who cannot be kept away from the runs, break or no break.
Virender Sehwag’s twenty-six held a lot of hope chasing 216. Gambhir carried on when Sri Lanka tasted blood with the wicket of Sehwag courtesy Nuwan Kulasekara. However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni elevating himself to no.3 failed to do the trick as despite Gambhir, India failed to seize the initiative comprehensively.
With the situation still suspended perilously, perhaps the sense of panic within the Indian team set up the collapse. At five down for 105 in the eleventh over when Yuvraj Singh went playing a flamboyant shot, it seemed curtains.
Ashoke Dinda and Ashish Nehra delayed the inevitable, giving the crowds an outside semblance of hope. But what they needed was someone with the anger and flair of Kumar Sangakkara. But there was none to be on this night in Nagpur as India fell short on 186 for nine.