On Wednesday, India lost the three-match ODI series 2-0 to Sri Lanka. Despite chasing modest targets throughout the series, the Indian batters struggled against Sri Lankan spinners on spin-friendly pitches. In all three games, the team faltered in the middle overs after solid starts in the Powerplay.
Sri Lankan off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana remarked on the challenges faced by the Indian batsmen, noting, “They usually play on good wickets and small boundaries in India. We knew that at Premadasa, even a little turn could be advantageous because we have strong spinners.” The series saw leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage shine. Vandersay took six wickets in the second ODI, while Wellalage claimed five wickets in the third game.
“The key was teamwork,” Theekshana explained. “Rohit attacked me, Asitha got a good start and dismissed Shubman, and Wellalage was exceptional. Vandersay did a great job, Hasaranga was effective in the first game, and Akila bowled economically. We focused on bowling dot balls, and every player contributed to our 2-0 victory.”
In contrast to the first ODI, which ended in a tie, and the second, which India lost by 32 runs, the third ODI offered less turn but still saw India crumble by 110 runs. For the third time in the series, despite their experience and talent, India’s batting line-up failed under pressure, and they lacked the quick start that had briefly offered hope in the earlier matches.