Hardik Pandya dispelled fears about his fitness, saying that it was just cramps which bothered him on the field on Tuesday.

“It was just cramps, I am alright. It was a rough night, I was unwell and didn’t have enough fluids... I have tendency to scare people but if I am smiling then everything is fine,” said Pandya after taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

He was all praise for Shivam Mavi, who took 4 for 22 on debut.

“I have seen him bowling well in the IPL... I know his strength and just told him to simply bowl. I told him, ‘I am backing you. Even if you get hit, it’s fine.’”

Pandya, who is leading in the T20I series, said he wasn’t too bothered about Sri Lanka running India close in the end. Getting Axar Patel to bowl the last over with 13 runs needed was also part of the gameplan.

“I want to put this team in difficult situations because it will help us in big games... Bilaterals we are very good at and this is how we are going to challenge ourselves.

“All the young guns got us out of the situation today,” Pandya said.

Man of the Match Deepak Hooda, whose 41 not out off 23 balls helped India reach 162, said he was ready to bat at any position.

“I try to practise for every position and try to give my best at every position.”