For the second match in a row in Brisbane, India were in pursuit of a big target and yet again they fell short. This time they did not have captain MS Dhoni and they definitely missed the right-hander.
Chasing 290 for victory, India were bowled out for 238 in 45.1 overs. As the batting faltered again, Virat Kohli was the stand out performer for the reigning world champions with a knock of 66. Irfan Pathan staged a fightback towards the end, but it was too late as India had lost wickets early.
Pathan, with a valiant 34-ball 47, was the last man out as Sri Lanka emerged victors in the 46th over of India's chase.
Paceman Nuwan Kulasekara returned with figures of 3/40 in 9 overs. His efforts got him the Man-of-the-match award. Thisara Perera claimed four wickets for 37 in 7.1 overs. Lasith Malinga had two scalps to show.
As long as Kohli and Suresh Raina were at the crease, India's run chase was firmly on track. Kohli enjoyed two chances when Dinesh Chandimal dropped him twice but Sri Lankans finally succeeded as Kohli perished for 66, attempting a pull off Perera.
The innings was off to a disastrous start when Sehwag chased a wide delivery from Malinga and was caught at third man by Kulasekara for a duck in the second ball of the innings. Gautam Gambhir was also consumed by Kulasekara while the swing bowler added another big scalp in Sachin Tendulkar, forcing the master blaster to edge on to the stumps.
Farveez Maharoof got Raina for 32 while Perera did the damage removing the lower order batsmen in Parthiv Patel, Vinay Kumar and also Pathan.