India v Sri Lanka, 2005-06

At Rajkot, November 9, 2005. India won by seven wickets. Toss: India.

Nineteen-year-old Rudra Pratap Singh, in only his third one-day international, all but settled the match with his opening spell on a slowish pitch at a normally batting-friendly ground. Singh, one of several left-arm new-ball bowlers available to India, showed no sign of nerves as he slipped into the lead role, asking awkward questions with swing and bounce off a length. Sehwag, captaining in place of the rested Dravid, did his bowlers a good turn by winning the toss and, through Singh and the unsung left-arm spinner Kartik, India restricted Sri Lanka to 196, the lone resistance coming from the on-song Dilshan. It was a target that was never going to test the Indians, especially as Muralitharan was absent with a hamstring injury. Yuvraj Singh returned to form with an authoritative unbeaten 79 from 67 balls, including three sixes.

Man of the Match: R. P. Singh.