IND vs SL: After a sensational series against Sri Lanka in the T20I series, Team India expected some great results in the ODI format as well. However, it now seems that Gambhir’s extreme experiments are not landing very well with the longer format of white-ball cricket.
Gambhir secured exceptional recoveries when he advised bowling with part-time spinners Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav to secure the final T20 game in the series. However, his every experiment with the Indian team in the longer format has collapsed.
The 2nd ODI also saw Indian spinners dominate as Axar, Sundar, and Kuldeep’s trio picked 6 wickets among them to restrict Sri Lanka to a score of 240. Though at one stage even that seemed unattainable, however, once again, thanks to the stunning Lankan lower order, Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis put on some important runs for the 7th wicket.
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Rohit Sharma came to open the innings alongside youngster Shubman Gill; he batted extremely well for his 64 of just 44 deliveries; however, after he got out, India went down from 97-0 to 147-6 as the Indian middle order, comprising of the greatest batsmen in the world in the format, collapsed in front of Lankan spinner Jefrey Vandersay.
Vandersay is brought in as the replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga, who unfortunately was ruled out for the remaining ODI series. Sri Lanka’s last-minute backup was also given a spot in the playing XI, and everything went right for Jayasuriya and Sri Lanka this time, as the leggie struck six consecutive times to dismiss the first six batters of the Indian lineup.
After the miserable fall of wickets and collapse of the Indian batters, Axar Patel gave some semblance to the Indian innings; however, not long as Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka once again broke the partnership for the 7th wicket between him and Sundar, as Patel was out for 44.
Asalanka was also Lanka’s rescue bowler who changed the course of the game in the previous outing and now has done it once more for Sri Lanka. With Patel gone, the chances of India are slim now, with Sundar also parting ways after the dismissal of Axar. Asalanka now has two and either wickets have turned the game again for Sri Lanka.
