07 Aug 2024
Mohammed Siraj has been wayward and Pathum Nissanka has taken full advantage of it by creaming a few quick boundaries. Shivam Dube, India is second new-ball bowler however has bowled with a lot of discipline. A couple of changes in the Indian Playing XI for the series decider. Riyan Parag makes his debut, replacing Arshdeep Singh, whereas Rishabh Pant gets a game ahead of KL Rahul. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and as expected, opted to bat on a freshly-laid but fry pitch.
Below are a few pointers from the India vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI:
Not of lot of this has happened recently. India have been bilateral bullies. Home or away, they have always found a way to blast through the opposition in the last 6-7 years. But now, in Gautam Gambhir is just second series as head coach, India have been pushed to a corner, where they are on the brink of losing their first ODI series against Sri Lanka in 27 years. Well, to start off, the batting. The great Indian batting, which has now time and again found itself at the receiving end of a surprise spin package. In both ODIs – the tied game in the first ODI and the 32-run defeat in the 2nd – India were blindsided by Sri Lankan spinners and endured a batting collapse. In the opener, chasing 231, India were 75/0 before wickets went down in a clutter whereas in the next one, the start was even better – Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on 97. But on both instances, once Rohit perished, the wheels came off. Even the experienced duo of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul had no answer to the barrage of spin threat thrown at India. Which has led us to the decider. For Sri Lanka, this can be a huge shot in the arm. They have had a tough couple of years, needing to play the qualifiers to make it to the T20 World Cup and a poor 2023 World Cup campaign. What is worse is that they have not even qualified for the next big ICC event – the Champions Trophy in 2025. And even more importantly, their record against India off late has been pretty much one-sided. One more win tonight can ease off all that pain and give the team and its interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya reasons to cheer. The fact that they have India onto the mat without the likes of Matheesha Pathirana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilshan Madushanka and a couple more of their match-winners is an incredible achievement, nonetheless. All that however is easier said than done. This is India, the T20 World Champions and the ODI World Cup runners up we are talking about. They have made a habit of coming from behind and stunning the opposition. Ask the 6-time World Champions Australia or Pakistan, who seemingly had the match won against their arch-rivals at the T20 World Cup. And lastly, this is the same team that skittled Sri Lanka for 50 in the Asia Cup final and 55 in the World Cup last year.
Who would have thought, right ? India, with a near full-strength squad, down 0-1 against Sri Lanka, trying to save a bilateral series? Where did it all go wrong?
A part of their poor batting could stem from the fact that a lot of them are coming from a break. In fact, for Kohli and Rahul this is their first ODI assignment since the 2023 World Cup, even though at the international level there is no excuse for it. In two matches, Kohli and Rahul have not looked too convincing but did not show any signs of rustiness either. But if India are to avoid this series defeat which is looming large, anything less than the form they displayed nine months ago is inacceptable. India is shaky middle-order has raised questions. Mostly around Rahul is place as the wicketkeeper batter in the side. There are chatters that India may bring Rishabh Pant in the Playing XI. Not sure how the team management under Gambhir operates but had this still been the Rahul Dravid era, Rahul would have gotten another chance. With GG though, you never know. With no Hardik Pandya, the lower middle order does appear a bit low on confidence. Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar are not cutting an emphatic figure either. Will the captain and coach be tempted to give Riyan Parag a debut. A big-hitting batter, it was Parag is bowling that won India the last T20I. Odd that he is been rested in a series where spin is dominating. Rest assured, something is got to give. Captain Rohit Sharma has made it clear that he is not going to chance his batting approach come what may. And that he and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar clearly stated that there will be talks about batting in the dressing room indicates that the management is not letting the performance of the last two games brush under the carpet. With so much at stake, and India on the cusp of a rare series defeat, do not even for a moment, mistake it to be just another bilateral decider. -Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to bat. - India made two changes to their Playing XI from the last ODI. - Riyan Parag, making his ODI debut, replaces Arshdeep Singh, and Rishabh Pant comes in for KL Rahul. - India stand one defeat away from losing their first bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka in27 years. - Charith Asalanka has taken 10 wickets in the last five ODIs against India. - Rohit Sharma did not take part in yesterday is optional training session. - This is India is last ODI of the year.
Blog Comments