(AFP Photo)
Indian batters, especially the influential Virat Kohli, will need to step up and follow the example set by captain Rohit Sharma to effectively tackle the spin challenge in the third and final ODI in Colombo on Wednesday. Their performance will be crucial in preventing a series loss to Sri Lanka, something India has not faced in 27 years.
This is not the ideal beginning Gautam Gambhir, known for his focus on victories, would have hoped for in his first ODI series as the team’s head coach.
India’s last bilateral ODI series loss to Sri Lanka occurred in 1997, when Arjuna Ranatunga’s team handed Sachin Tendulkar and his side a 0-3 defeat.
Since then, India and Sri Lanka have contested 11 bilateral ODI series, with India securing victory in each of them.
Currently, India cannot win the ongoing three-match series after losing to Sri Lanka by 32 runs in the second ODI and tying the first game.
The current discomfort for the Indian team has been largely due to the batsmen’s indecision on a RPSC pitch that has provided ample assistance to the spinners.
Star batter Virat Kohli epitomizes this struggle. He has managed only 38 runs across two matches, but it’s not just the runs that are worrying—it’s the nature of his dismissals that is more concerning.
Kohli has appeared subdued, especially after the aggressive starts provided by Rohit Sharma. Kohli needed to capitalize on these starts, but instead, he has struggled against the spin of Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay, failing to assert himself and eventually falling to them.
He has looked a shadow of the dominant player who once scored four centuries at the same venue. Perhaps Kohli needs to focus on more positive memories rather than being weighed down by current challenges.
For India to thrive in the middle overs, especially while chasing or setting targets, a fluent Kohli is essential. However, his struggles reflect a broader issue affecting the Indian batting unit.
Shivam Dube, known for his ability to tackle spin, failed to handle a straightforward leg-break from Vandersay in the second ODI, falling victim to LBW. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, who have traditionally excelled against spinners, have also struggled with their footwork and timing against Sri Lankan slow bowlers.
It seems as if they have momentarily forgotten how to rotate the strike, which is crucial for managing spin-friendly conditions like those at the Premadasa Stadium. They could benefit from observing Rohit’s batting, not necessarily his technique but the confidence and strategic thinking that underpin his innings.
Rohit Sharma’s batting speaks for itself, and his performance against the Sri Lankan bowlers—both pace and spin—has been outstanding.
While a 44-ball 64 might usually include a few risky shots, Rohit’s play was so meticulously crafted that his strokes seemed almost risk-free. Can his teammates learn from his approach?
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Ꮪhubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Akila Dananjaya, Mohamed Shiraz, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga, Jeffrey Vandersay.
