Tactics: How India Cruised To A Steep Looking Run Chase Against Sri Lanka

India defeated Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I by 7 wickets and 17 balls to spare to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match series. 

From the above line, it might look like a regular 140-150 run target that India cruised to but it wasn't. The hosts had to chase 184 in a cold night of Dharamsala with not many first-choice players in the XI. How did they do it then? Let's take a look. 

Sri Lanka began the powerplay well as Dushmantha Chameera got Rohit Sharma out in the first over itself. It was the perfect scenario for a player like Shreyas Iyer, who generally is a slow starter, to play his game. 

With Ishan Kishan's recent struggles against the left-arm seam, Binura Fernando was kept for him in the powerplay. To shield a struggling Kishan from the lefty, Shreyas had the perfect bowler to open his arms and get set. 

Binura's not-so-fast deliveries didn't trouble Iyer, who attacked them through the powerplay. But Ishan couldn't let loose and was out against Lahiru Kumara's quick pace for 16 runs in 15 balls. 

Shreyas got set but was troubled with Lahiru's pace as well. Sanju Samson came into bat at number four but was in no rhythm since he hadn't played a game for a good time now. 

Sri Lanka had to bring on a spinner after the powerplay whose sold duty was to bowl back of the length and not give enough room or time to the Shreyas & Sanju to hit and maintain the pressure. 

With Sanju still finding the rhythm, Shreyas - the spin hitter - attacked Praveen Jayawickrama to give India and his partner the space. To add to Iyer and Samson's delight, the not-so-fast bowlers - Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne - operated in the middle overs. 

Iyer kept finding boundaries and Samson got set and a well-set Samson is a threat to the pace bowlers and that is exactly what happened. Lahiru Kumara came in the 13th over and Samson smacked him for three sixes and a four before Fernando caught him in a stunning way. 

But the tempo was set. India sent in Ravindra Jadeja at number five who in recent times has improved his pace hitting range. Jadeja had no problem in dealing with any seamer Sri Lanka deployed against him. 

Iyer had no problem giving him in the strike as Jadeja finished the game with his blistering 45 off 18 balls, including seven fours and a six. Shreyas remained unbeaten on 74 in 44 balls - strike rate of 168.18 with the help of six fours and four sixes. 

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Sri Lanka's problem was the lack of 4th and 5th bowler and a quality spinner. Had Shanaka had the option of either a good quality 5th bowler or a spinner, it could have gone closer than losing with 17 balls to spare defending 184 runs.