Chasing 162 runs, a rain interruption left India short of the target of 78 runs. The Men in Blue cruised home in 6.3 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.

Pallekele: Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Suryakumar Yadav struck as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead and won the second T20I against Sri Lanka by seven wickets with nine balls to spare on Sunday. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and new captain Suryakumar could not have asked for a better start to their new roles as the Indian team played like true T20 World Champions, beating Sri Lanka in all departments.

Shubman Gill's absence due to a neck injury and another failure in the format of Sanju Samson (0), Jaiswal (30 off 15 balls) and Suryakumar (26 off 12 balls) did not break a sweat in their short. But after the bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 161/9, they chased down a difficult 78 runs in 8 overs.

When Mahesh Thekshana's carrom ball to Samson and Surya's second seemed dangerous, the Mumbai duo decided to bring the sweep shot – both traditional and reverse – out of the closet. The strategy was not to let the deliveries of Teekshana and Wanindu Hasranga distract from the surface and create confusion.

Instead, India's batsmen made good use of their reach and bowled over the innings. He added 39 runs in 3.1 overs and had hit seven fours and three sixes by the time Surya and Jaiswal were dismissed. Hardik Pandya (22 not out off 9 balls) and Rishabh Pant (2 not out) completed the formalities in 6.3 overs on Tuesday, the final match of the series was ineffective.

Earlier, Surya made a right-handed call and his bowlers repeated on consecutive days to post a comfortable 130 for 2 in 15 overs as the home team lost seven wickets for 31 runs off the last 30 balls. Despite scoring 80 runs in the first 10 overs and in a position to build momentum, Charit Aslanka's side lost their way, with Pandya (2/23 in 2 overs) changing pace and Ravi Bishnoi (3/3) managing just 81 runs in the last-10. 26 in 4 overs) A quick googly did the trick.

Akshar Patel and Arshdeep Singh also picked up two wickets each. Pathum Nisanka (32 off 24 balls) and veteran southpaw Kusal Perera (53 off 34 balls) left the batsmen reeling as they laid the platform for the second wicket with a 54-run partnership in six overs.

All-rounders Dasun Shanaka (0) and Hasaranga (0), desperate to break the shackles, were seen playing ill-advised shots by the Indian bowlers as they wound their way around the Lankan batsmen, as interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya looked bemused. . From 130/2 in 15 overs, Sri Lanka's middle order suddenly collapsed, the second in as many days, where they lost four wickets in 10 balls and never recovered.

Gambhir's back-room brainstorming revealed Surya's bowling plan as Bishnoi, who struggled against Sri Lanka's top order with more right-handed batsmen attacking his errant 'un', was kept out of the attack. He started with young Ryan Parag (0/30 in 4 overs), who had 10 dot balls and five fours but was asked to only attack the stumps with occasional turns, while Akshar Patel (2/30 in 4 overs) continued to take his wickets. -Two-wicket dart-like accuracy.

Traveling at the right speed, the ball skidded across the surface and the batsman was confused as to whether to come forward or stand his ground. Once Bishnoi came in, he changed the pace of his googly from the night before – fastest for Nisanka, a bit slower for Shanaka and flat and low for Hasranga – very effective.