Bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule hinted that India will continue to utilise their top-order batters as bowlers, considering it a potential “surprise element” for the opposition. In the first ODI against Sri Lanka, which ended in a tie on Friday, Shubman Gill was allowed to bowl, although he conceded 14 runs in his sole over. Bahutule believes that while batting remains their primary skill, these players have effective bowling abilities that can be leveraged. “Our batters are also capable bowlers. Although their main focus is on batting, they possess the skills to bowl effectively,” Bahutule said in the post-match press conference.
In contrast, Sri Lankan captain and key batter Charith Asalanka excelled with the ball, delivering 8.5 overs and taking 3 for 30, including the crucial dismissals of Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh on consecutive balls, which helped secure the tie.
Bahutule highlighted Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh's contributions with the ball in T20Is against Sri Lanka, suggesting that having top-order batters who can bowl could be beneficial in future matches. He reflected on the ODIs, stating that India could have formed better partnerships after a strong start, and lamented the inability to score the final run to win the tie. He praised Sri Lankan spinners for their effective execution and acknowledged Rohit Sharma's solid innings of 58 off 47 balls as a crucial performance. Bahutule expressed regret over allowing extra runs after reducing Sri Lanka to 142 for 6 but emphasised that the bowlers performed well overall, keeping the opposition to 230.