SL 175-5 (18.3 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

Kusal Perera blasted 66 from 37 balls to help Sri Lanka outclass India by five wickets in the first match of the T20 tri-series in Colombo.

Chasing 175 for victory, Sri Lanka lost an early wicket before Perera's counter-attack brought them back into the contest.

He set tone by hammering pacer Shardul Thakur for 27 runs in the third over, including five fours and a six, before racing to his fifty from just 22 balls.

Thisara Perera finished off things at the end, hitting a quickfire 22 not out from 10 balls to help Sri Lanka start off with a win.

Earlier, Opener Shikhar Dhawan smashed a quickfire 90 from 49 balls to power India a huge 174 for five in their 20 overs in the first T20 against Sri Lanka.

Put into bat, India lost captain Rohit Sharma (0) and Suresh Raina (1) early before Dhawan rallied the visitors in the company of Manish Pandey.

Pandey hit 37 from 25 balls as the duo put on 95 from 64 balls for the third wicket to put India's innings back on track.

SL 175-5 (18.3 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

Pacer Unadkat, who has two overs in hand, comes back to bowl the 18th over.

Shanaka lofts the second ball over the off-side for a four before Perera all but settles the issue with a six and a four off the last two balls of the over.

Unadkat is hit for 16 runs in his third over, leaving Sri Lanka to get eight runs from the last two overs for victory.

Thakur starts the 19th over with a leg side wide before Shanaka picks a single.

Perera pulls the second ball on the leg side for two runs and pulls the next one behind square for a four to take Sri Lanka to victory.

SL 151-4 (17 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

Sri Lanka finding it difficult to score against Thakur as he bowls a couple of dot balls to Shanaka, who is also struck around the hip area.

Just two singles from the first four balls as Perera looks for a big hit but gets just one on the leg side.

Shanaka is beaten off the last ball as Thakur bowls another superb over, giving away just four runs as the pressure continues to build.

India takes a risk as all-rounder Vijay Shankar comes into the attack, with one over still left to be bowled by the fifth bowler.

Perera up to the task, trying to go after the fifth bowler, but miscues the first ball on the off-side for two runs and then gets one down the ground.

Shankar looks for a full delivery outside the off-stump but concedes a wide.

The medium pacer bowls a high full toss which Shanaka flicks over fine leg but doesn't time it too well and gets two runs.

Interestingly, the umpires don't rule it a no-ball for height and the crowd inside the stadium are not too happy after watching the replay on the big screen.

Shanaka comes down and has another go but gets a thick outside edge for two runs to thirdman.

He tries another wide yorker but Shanaka steers it past point for another couple to bring up Sri Lanka's 150.

Shanaka lofts the last ball but it goes on the bounce to long-off for one as Shankar gives away 11 runs in the 17th over.

The match is still up for grabs as Sri Lanka need 24 runs from three overs for victory, with five wickets in hand.

SL 137-4 (15 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

A big vote of confidence for pacer Thakur, who went for 27 runs in his first over, as he is brought back into the attack.

He makes a good comeback, giving away just five runs in his second over as India look to ramp up the pressure with some tight bowling.

Sri Lanka need 43 runs from six overs for victory as Chahal comes back, to bowl his fourth and final over.

He makes the crucial breakthrough with the wicket of the inexperienced Tharanga, who attempts the slog sweep but misses and is bowled for 17.

Thisara Perera smashes the last ball straight back but Chahal is unable to hold on to a sharp chance.

Just five runs from the over as Chahal finishes with two for 37 in his four overs.

Sri Lanka have scored just 16 runs from the last three overs while losing two wickets to reach 137 for five in 15 overs, needing 38 from the last five overs for victory.

SL 127-4 (13 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

Washington Sundar brings India back into the contest with the big wicket of Perera.

Bowling his final over, Sundar builds up the pressure with two dot balls to Perera, before the left-hander tries for a big shot but misses and is stumped by wicketkeeper Karthik. The ball turns and bounces as the left-hander is beaten all ends up and Karthik shows some glove work to dislodge the bails quickly

Perera walks back after an entertaining innings of 66 from 37 balls, having hit four sixes and six fours.

Dasun Shanaka is unable to get a run off the last three balls as just one run comes from the over, and that too a wide.

Sundar finishes with good figures of two for 28 in four overs.

Sri Lanka still in control with 48 needed from seven overs for victory.

SL 126-3 (12 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

Part-time spinner Suresh Raina comes into the attack. He bowls a tidy over first over, giving away just three runs as Sri Lanka race to 101 for three in 10 overs.

In the next over, Perera tries to sweep Chahal but gets a top edge which goes fine on the leg side for a four.

Upul Tharanga also joins the party as he clobbers Chahal over midwicket for a six as the leg-spinner goes for 13 in his third over.

Perera continues his fireworks as he reverse sweeps Raina over the off-side for a six. Tharanga chips the last ball over the off-side for two runs to get 12 from the over.

Sri Lanka are comfortably placed on 126 for three in 12 overs, needing 49 runs from eight overs for victory.

Perera has played a smashing innings of 66 from 34 balls, while Tharanga has made 11.

SL 98-3 (9 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

Off-spinner Sundar continues as Dinesh Chandimal slaps the second ball through point for three runs and then takes one as five come from the over.

A good Powerplay for Sri Lanka as they smash 75 runs from the first six overs, courtesy of Perera, who smashed 39 from 17 balls.

Spinner from both ends as leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack.

Perera continues his onslaught as he lofts the leggie straight back over his head for a six as Chahal goes for 13 runs in his first over.

Medium pacer Vijay Shankar comes into the attack. Perera takes a single off the first ball to race to his half-century from just 22 balls.

A good start by Shankar as he gives away just four singles in his first over.

Chandimal looks to attack Chahal as he smashes the third ball for a four and then turns the next on the leg side for two runs.

However, Chahal has the last laugh as he breaks through Chandimal's defences and bowls him for 14.

SL 70-2 (5 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

Unadkat comes back into the attack, replacing Thakur, after that expensive first over.

Perera takes a single from the first ball courtesy of an inside edge before Gunathilaka chips the second ball to deep midwicket for two runs before he heaves the fifth ball over the leg side for a four.

But Unadkat gets revenge with the wicket of Gunathilaka off the last ball of the over.

The left-hander is deceived by the slower ball and ends up lofting a simple catch straight into the hands of Pant at mid-off to perish for 12.

SL 56-1 (4 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

India make a change as Shardul Thakur replaces Unadkat, who bowled just one over with the new ball.

Perera targets the young pacer, hitting him for five fours and a six off the first six balls, including a no-ball.

The first ball is short which the left-hander pulls over midwicket before steering the next ball past point for back to back fours.

Thakur pitches it up and Perera hammers it through the covers for another boundary before lofting the next ball over the off-side for a six.

He tries the slower ball but ends up bowling a high full toss which is carted through the covers for a four but is ruled a no-ball for height.

The free hit delivery is smashed straight down the ground past mid-on for the fifth four of the over.

Thakur manages to bowl a dot finally as Perera pulls the last ball but can't beat the fielder at short fine leg.

A horror short for Thakur as he goes for 27 runs in his first over with Perera smashing 33 from his first 10 balls.

Sundar continues as Gunathilaka picks a leg bye to bring Perera back on strike, who turns the third ball to deep midwicket for two runs and then takes one.

Gunathilaka also gets into the act as he sweeps the last ball over square leg for a six as Sri Lanka race to 56 for one in four overs, having scored 37 runs from the last two overs.

SL 19-1 (2 ovs) vs India 174-5 | Scorecard

Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat to open the bowling. Gunathilaka gets off the mark with a single from the second ball before Kusal Mendis gets a thick outside edge past the slips for a four and then takes one to get six runs from the first over.

Off-spinner Washington Sundar to share the new ball. Mendis immediately goes after the youngster hitting him down the ground over mid-off for a four.

He slog sweeps the next ball for two runs to deep square leg. However, Sundar gets revenge off the third ball as Mendis tries another big shot. He mishits it on the off-side as Dhawan completes an easy catch on the off-side.

New batsman Kusal Perera wastes no time as he sweeps the second ball he faces, over the square leg fence for a six and takes a quick single from the last ball.

India 174-5 (20 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Opener Shikhar Dhawan smashed a quickfire 90 from 49 balls to power India a huge 174 for five in their 20 overs in the first T20 against Sri Lanka.

Put into bat, India lost captain Rohit Sharma (0) and Suresh Raina (1) early before Dhawan rallied the visitors in the company of Manish Pandey.

Pandey hit 37 from 25 balls as the duo put on 95 from 64 balls for the third wicket to put India's innings back on track.

The young Rishabh Pant struggled to get going at the end, scoring 23 from as many balls, while Dinesh Karthik slammed 13 from six balls.

India 174-5 (20 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Pant not getting the boundaries as he drives Perera down to long-off, but just for a single.

Dinesh Karthik also does the same as Perera manages to bowl a quiet over, conceding just seven runs.

Chameera to bowl the final over. Pant goes hard again but manages just another single before Karthik gets a thick outside edge for a four fine on the off-side.

Karthik gets the next off the middle, chipping it over square leg for another four before picking up one.

Pant finally breaks free as he crashes a full delivery through the covers for a four but is caught off the last ball as he pulls a short ball to fine leg.

Pant is dismissed for 23 as India finish on a healthy 174 for five in their 20 overs.

Karthik finishes unbeaten on 13 from six balls.

India 153-4 (18 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

The young Pant struggling to get going. He tries the reverse sweep but fails to make connection before he takes one to take his score to 14 from 15 balls.

Dhawan picks one to take his score to 90 before Pant is beaten again by part-time spinner Gunathilaka.

The pressure of runs not coming from the other end finally causes Dhawan's downfall.

Having scored just three runs from five balls, Dhawan goes after the last ball but is caught at long-off.

Dhawan walks back after a quickfire 90 from 49 balls, having hit six sixes and as many fours, as India are reduced to 153 for four in 18 overs.

India 150-3 (17 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Off-spinner Danushka Gunathilaka comes into the attack. Dhawan picks a single from the first ball and new batsman Rishabh Pant takes one from the third ball to get off the mark.

Another single for Dhawan before Pant is beaten outside the off-stump trying to run it down to thirdman before he drives the last ball to long-on for one.

Dananjaya comes back as Pant comes down the track but gets an inside edge before he takes a quick run.

Dhawan then pulls a short ball over the square leg region for a six and Pant hammers a flighted delivery over long-off for the second six of the over.

He goes for another big hit off the last ball but gets a thick inside edge for a single on the leg side.

Dhawan continues his big hitting as he heaves Gunathilaka over the leg side for another six and then takes one to take his score to 75.

Pacer Chameera comes back into the attack. Dhawan again gets the top edge which flies fine on the leg side for a six but smashes the last ball down the ground for another maximum.

Dhawan has raced to 89 from 47 balls as India reach 150 for three in 17 overs.

India 105-3 (13 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Perera starts his new spell with a wide half-tracker which Dhawan cracks through the covers for another four.

A single for the left-hander before Pandey swings the third ball square on the leg side for another four.

Pandey picks a single off the last ball to bring up India's 100 after 12 overs.

Mendis finally makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Pandey, who comes down the track but holes out to the fielder at deep midwicket.

Pandey walks back after a good innings of 37 from 35 balls, having put on a quickfire stand of 95 from 64 balls for the third wicket to put India's innings back on track after a couple of early wickets.

India are on course for a huge score as they reach 105 for three in 13 overs, with Dhawan looking good on 58 from 35 balls.

India 90-2 (11 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Medium pacer Thisara Perera comes into the attack. Dhawan takes one from the first ball before Pandey walks across and turns the second ball perfectly in the gap between fine leg and square leg for a four.

Three more singles get India eight runs from Perera's first over.

Change from the other end as leg-spinner Jeevan Mendis comes into the attack in place of Dananjaya, who bowled two overs for 12 runs.

Dhawan tries to play the sweep and is beaten but the umpire turns down the confident appeal for LBW. The Sri Lankans are not convinced as they decide to take the DRS.

The ball has pitched outside leg stump and the review goes against Sri Lanka, while the leg bye brings up India's 50, in the eighth over.

Pandey slog sweeps the next ball powerfully over the midwicket fence for a huge six on the leg side.

Pradeep comes back for another spell. Dhawan gets a top edge as he tries to pull the pacer but it goes all the way over the thirdman fence for a six, to raise the 50-run stand for the third wicket from 41 balls.

He again gets a top edge off the next ball and yet again the ball goes behind the stumps for another six. He then takes a single to race to 42 from 25 balls.

Pandey makes room and smashes the fifth ball straight but ends up hitting the stumps at the non-striker's end which denies him some runs.

The last ball is a slower bouncer as Pandey throws his bat but is deceived by the change of pace.

Dhawan comes down the track and Mendis slips it down the leg side but the ball is too far down, allowing the batsman time to recover.

Mendis bowling with a slingy action like Kedar Jadhav, trying not to give the ball air and allow the batsmen to get under it.

India are well placed for a score around the 175-run mark as they reach 80 for two in 10 overs.

Dhawan has benefitted from a few top edges to smashed 45 from 28 balls, while Pandey has made 25 from as many balls.

India were struggling on 10 for two in three overs before hitting 70 runs from the next seven overs.

Spinner Dananjaya comes back as Dhawan drives the fifth ball through the covers to bring up his fifty from just 30 balls.

India 40-2 (6 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Dhawan gets a thick outside edge off Chameera for a single to thirdman before new batsman Manish Pandey is beaten outside the off-stump.

He then tries another reckless shot and misses before defending the last two balls as just one run comes from the third over.

Sri Lanka introduce spin early as mystery spinner Akila Dananjaya comes into the attack.

He nearly strikes with the first ball as Dhawan is hit on the pads as he looks to play across the line but the LBW appeal is turned down.

Dhawan has another close shave as he tries the sweep but misses and the ball passes close to the stumps.

However, he gets third time lucky as he finally connects with the bat, smashing the sweep through square leg for a four.

Dhawan then flicks the fifth ball through midwicket for two runs and then takes a single off the last ball to the fielder on the deep.

Pacer Pradeep comes back into the attack, replacing Chameera, who bowled a superb spell of one for three in two overs.

Dhawan guides the first ball fine on the off-side for a four. He comes down the track to the next ball as Pradeep surprises him with a quick bouncer which he tries to fend but gets a top edge which goes over the fielder at short fine leg for another boundary.

Dhawan then picks a single on the leg side and Pandey risks a quick run to mid-off but the fielder is slow to react.

Dhawan takes a run before Pandey lofts the last ball over mid-on for a four to get 17 runs from the over.

Dhawan uses the sweep to good effect again, hitting it past short fine leg for one and Pandey slaps the third ball to long-on for another run.

Three more singles from the rest of the over as India recover to 40 for two in six overs.

Dhawan has smashed his way to 27 from 19 balls, while Pandey has made seven from 10 balls.

India 9-2 (2 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Nuwan Pradeep to bowl the second over. Dhawan again steals a quick single on the leg side and Raina pinches another quick run off the next ball to get off the mark.

Dhawan comes down the track and attempts a shot similar to Rohit, but he manages to clear the fielder just about and gets the first boundary of the match.

Two balls later, he pulls a short ball but it goes on the bounce to fine leg for one.

Raina makes room but misses a full toss and is bowled off the last ball for one.

India 2-1 (1 ov) vs SL | Scorecard

Pacer Dushmantha Chameera to open the bowling for Sri Lanka. India captain Rohit Sharma takes strike as he defends the first ball of the match gently into the covers.

Rohit blocks the next two balls before Chameera bowls a big wide down the leg side as the right-hander has a swing but is nowhere near the ball as the extra run gets India off the mark.

Rohit tries to loft the next ball down the ground but fails to time it properly as Jeevan Mendis running backward from mid-off and comes up with a superb catch, holding on despite the tumble.

Rohit walks back for a duck as India suffer a big blow in the very first over.

Shikhar Dhawan gets off the mark from the next ball with a tap on the leg side and new batsman Suresh Raina defends the last ball of the over.

India have gone in with a strong batting line-up, featuring Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan at the top and the experienced Suresh Raina to follow. Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik provide the solidity to the middle order with the exciting Rishabh Pant, playing a specialist batsman, expected to play the finisher's role.

The visitors have included two pace bowlers in Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat, while Yuzvendrea Chahal and Washington Sundar are the two spinners, and all-rounder Vijay Shankar the fifth bowling option.

Teams:

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (w/k), Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the first match of the T20 International tri-series, in Colombo, on Tuesday.

India captain Rohit Sharma is not bothered about losing the toss. He believes that it is a good opportunity for the young players in his team to showcase their potential.

The pitch looks totally flat and is expected to produce a run feast.

Some team news as the local dancers entrall the fans at opening ceremony at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo.

All-rounder Vijay Shankar will make his debut in the first match against hosts Sri Lanka. He comes into the team in place of Hardik Pandya, who has been given a rest along with seniors like captain Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"A familiar huddle and some new faces. Time to get The Nidahas Trophy underway. In other news - @vijayshankar260 is all set to make his T20I debut #TeamIndia," BCCI tweeted.

For the likes of Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda and Mohammed Siraj (in picture), there will be just one target -- to make most of their chances as some of them might not get too many with just about 16 months left for the 50-overs World Cup.

The aim would be to stay on the selectors' radar for next year's World Cup when India's second-string team, led by Rohit Sharma, begins yet another Sri Lankan sojourn by taking on the islanders in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Nidahas Twenty20 Cup, in Colombo, on Tuesday.

Having faced Sri Lanka in 18 international matches this season -- six Tests, eight ODIs and four T20 Internationals --  on home and away basis, another face-off can only add to the players as well as viewers' fatigue due to lack of context.

Bangladesh is the third team in this series and though the sprightly bunch is known to add excitement, the series itself is not exactly an anticipated event after a rather exhausting trip to South Africa.

However, for a bunch of youngsters, who will get to wear the India blues with as many as six top players being rested, would consider this a god-sent opportunity.

At this point in time, the senior national team has only that many specific roles but the enormous supply line means that the queue has only gotten longer.

Even though this is a T20 tournament, a good performance will keep the national selection committee interested for those limited batting slots in the middle-order and perhaps the reserve pacers.

They have mauled Sri Lanka on most of the occasions and stand-in captain Rohit Sharma will have plenty of reasons to remain upbeat about taking the trophy back home.

On a personal front, Rohit will be itching to get back to form after a poor South Africa tour where he managed only a single hundred in the one-dayers.

Suresh Raina is slowly getting back into the groove at No 3. The Lankan pitches and the pace trio of Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Dasun Shanaka are not expected to pose too many problems to the stylish left-hander, who was out of the side for a year owing to fitness and form-related issues.

Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal are the two spin bowling options at the floodlit R Premadasa stadium, where the wicket tends to get slower as the evening progresses.

Pacer Shardul Thakur after an impressive show in South Africa, is expected to share the new ball with Jaydev Unadkat.

It will be interesting to see if India opt for an extra pacer or an all-rounder. In case the team wants an extra pacer then Mohammed Siraj will come in or else Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar. If the need of the hour is an extra spinner, then Axar Patel is the option at hand.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday said the tri-nation T20 series in Sri Lanka, also involving the Indian team, will continue despite the country plunging into a state of emergency following communal violence.

The BCCI confirmed that the "situation is perfectly normal in Colombo" where the tournament is taking place, hours before India are scheduled to take on hosts Sri Lanka in the opening fixture of Nidahas Trophy at the Premadasa Stadium.

"There have been reports of curfew and an emergency being called in Sri Lanka. The situation in picture is in Kandy and not Colombo. This is to notify everyone that after talking to concerned security personnel (Ministerial security division - in charge of team security), we have understood that the situation is completely normal in Colombo. If at all there is any update on the same we shall notify," BCCI's media team said in a statement from Colombo.

"The Sri Lankan government has informed us that an extra layer of security is being added around the Indian team hotel and we have been assured that there is nothing to worry," senior Congress politician and BCCI official Rajiv Shukla said.