(Source X)
Shubman Gill struggled to find his rhythm with the bat during the third ODI between Sri Lanka and India at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka set the highest total of the series, putting pressure on India to get off to a strong start with their openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. While Rohit Sharma, who had been in excellent form with fifties in the previous matches, continued to assert his dominance, Shubman Gill played a more subdued role.
By the end of the fourth over, India had scored 35 runs, with Rohit contributing 31 of those from just 13 deliveries. In contrast, Shubman Gill had managed only 4 runs from 11 balls. Attempting to break free in the fifth over, Gill took an aggressive approach but his efforts proved unsuccessful. Asitha Fernando’s delivery kept low, and Gill missed the ball, which then struck the leg stump. Gill was dismissed for 6 runs off 14 balls.
Shubman Gill’s tour of Sri Lanka came to an abrupt end with his latest dismissal. He failed to hit a single fifty throughout the tour, managing scores of 34 and 39 in the two T20Is, followed by 16 and 35 in the first two ODIs.
At the time of this report, India was at 58/2 in the 9th over. Dunith Wellalage had provided Sri Lanka with a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Rohit Sharma for 35 runs in the 8th over. Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted a total of 248/7, the highest score of the series so far.
Sri Lanka, at one point, looked poised to surpass 250 as they were comfortably placed at 171/1. However, India’s bowlers made a comeback, taking quick wickets to reduce Sri Lanka to 199/6. Despite this, Sri Lanka managed to finish their innings on 248 runs. Avishka Fernando led the charge with an impressive 96, while Kusal Mendis added 59. For India, debutant Riyan Parag shone with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 54 runs.
