VIDEO: India captain Shikhar Dhawan falls for first-ball duck in 3rd T20I vs Sri Lanka – Watch

India received a major jolt in the first over of the innings itself as captain Shikhar Dhawan perished for a first-ball duck.

With only five specialist batsmen, India needed at least four of them to fire big if they had a chance to put up a decent score. But after opting to bat, things didn't quite go as per plans as India were rocked early, losing the first five wickets for just 36 runs on the board. The Indian top order, which was highlighted by Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal and Sanju Samson, was shredded by Sri Lanka.

Shikhar Dhawan endured a golden duck in the third T20I. (Getty Images)

With the series on the line, a lot was expected from skipper Dhawan, who had top-scored in the previous game with 40. But India received a major jolt in the first over of the innings itself as Dhawan perished for a first-ball duck. Dhawan poked at a full, slightly wide ball from Dushmantha Chameera and nicked the ball to Dananjaya de Silva to first slip.

India's troubles did not end there. After Devdutt Padikkal hit an early boundary to get off to a promising start, he was out LBW to Ramesh Mendis. In the next over, India were dealt twin blows with Wanindu Hasaranga dismissing Sanju Samson and Gaikwad in a span of three balls. The spinner trapped Samson on the backfoot as he departed for a three-ball duck. Two deliveries later, Gaikwad came forward to defend but the ball hit him in front of the stumps and the finger was raised, the review not able to save him.

India’s situation worsened as Nitish Rana was out caught and bowled to a thrilling piece of fielding effort by captain Dasun Shanaka. Rana played an uppish drive slightly left of Shanaka but an alert Sri Lanka skipper dived to his left and pulled off an incredible one-handed stunner. After 10 overs, India reached 39/9, which is their lowest total at the end of the half-way mark of a T20I match.