‘Last tak larke hara atleast’ - Fan show support for India following Axar Patel’s magical knock despite losing 2nd T20I against SL

On 5 January 2023, team India took on Sri Lanka in Pune for the second game of the T20I series. The home side came to this clash after winning the series opener by two runs. Therefore, the Men in Blue were looking to seal the series by winning this game. While the visitors were looking to level the series.

Speaking of the match, Hardik Pandya won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. However, it was a great moment for Rahul Tripathi as he got his T20I debut cap. Sanju Samson got ruled out of the series due to injury. So, he got a chance to show his class for team India. For Sri Lanka, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis came out to open the innings.

Sri Lanka defeated India by 16 runs in the second T20I of the series

While batting first, they posted a mammoth total of 206 runs for six wickets in 20 overs. Both Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gave a fantastic start to them. The first wicket fell in 8.2 overs after they scored 80 runs. Mendis scored 52 runs off 31 balls, including three fours and four sixes. But, at the death overs, skipper Dasun Shanaka came up with a blistering knock of 56* runs off 22 balls. He hit two fours and six over-boundaries, at a strike rate of 254.54. For India, Umran Malik took three wickets for 48 runs in four overs. 

In reply, India were all over the place as they lost five wickets for 57 runs in 9.1 overs. Even, debutant Rahul Tripathi scored only five runs off five balls, including one four. Then, Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav put up a solid partnership of 91 runs off 40 balls. Suryakumar got out after scoring 51 runs off 36 balls, including three fours and three sixes. Axar Patel also scored his fifty off just 20 balls. Finally, he got out for 65 runs off 31 balls, including three fours and six over boundaries. Thus, India managed only 190 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs. So, the visitors leveled the series with a 16-run victory.

Here is how fans have reacted to the loss of team India vs Sri Lanka in the second T20I: 

Nice plan 👍
Btw well played axar Patel and Shivam mavi#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/Jkw3TCzODK

— Desi Bhayo (@desi_bhayo88) January 5, 2023

Well played Axar Patel
Respect++#axarpatel #INDvSL

— Pratham vora (@Prathamvora16) January 5, 2023

Its all over Sri Lanka win by 16 runs and level the series 1-1 with one match to play #INDvSL

— Mustafa Saleem (@Callmemustafa_) January 5, 2023

We lost it completely but Axar want to did it but we lost by small margin 💥 #Axarpatel #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/gozwgZWm9U

— Ѧ†ʊℓ🇮🇳 (@atulprakashh) January 5, 2023

Captain srilanka shanaka took responsibility in last over and he did it.
A good match!
🇱🇰🎯#INDvSL

— मꪀiડ (@itsmnisk) January 5, 2023

what a match this was though, peak T20 entertainment #INDvSL

— sohom (@AwaaraHoon) January 5, 2023

Hardik should have bowled last over in the last match, we didn't raise questions because luckily India won that match.
But Dasun Shanaka proved his captaincy skills today by bowling last over. #INDvSL | #CricketTwitter | #T20I | #INDvsSL | #DasunShanaka

— Paritosh Kumar 🏏 (@ParitoshK_2016) January 5, 2023

#INDvSL #AxarPatel what a player this is and India should groom him for the long run. He can bring a lot to the table.

— no-name (@iamsudippanda) January 5, 2023