India’s recent ODI series loss to Sri Lanka has drawn concern, particularly from former opener Wasim Jaffer. While Jaffer is not overly worried about the series defeat itself, he is apprehensive about the limited opportunities India has left to fine-tune their game before the ICC Champions Trophy next year. The series was India’s first ODI engagement since their devastating loss to Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup final at home in November. With only three more ODIs against England in February before the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, time is running short for India to make necessary adjustments.
Sri Lanka secured a convincing 110-run victory in the third ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday, sealing the series 2-0. This victory marks the first time in 27 years that Sri Lanka has won an ODI series against India. The hosts, after winning the toss and opting to bat, posted a challenging total of 248/7 in their 50 overs. Avishka Fernando led the charge with a stellar 96-run knock off 109 balls, including nine fours and two sixes. Contributions from Kusal Mendis (59 off 82 balls) and Pathum Nissanka (45 off 65 balls) bolstered Sri Lanka’s innings. For India, Riyan Parag was the standout bowler, taking 3/54.
Jaffer lauded SL for their cricket and wrote, “SL played better cricket and deserve the series win. It doesn’t worry me that India lost a series. Wins and losses are part of the game. However it’s a point of concern that India has just 3 ODIs before the Champions Trophy. #SLvIND.”
India’s chase of 249 runs faltered as they struggled against the spinning conditions, losing wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Rohit Sharma’s brisk 35 off 20 balls, Virat Kohli’s 20 off 18 balls, and Washington Sundar’s 30 off 25 balls were the only notable contributions. The rest of the batting lineup failed to establish any momentum, resulting in India being bowled out for a mere 138 in 26.1 overs. Dunith Wellalage was the star performer for Sri Lanka, taking 5/27 and earning both the ‘Player of the Match’ and ‘Player of the Series’ awards for his exceptional all-round performance.
This series defeat has exposed several areas of concern for India, particularly their vulnerability in spinning conditions and the lack of depth in their batting lineup. As they prepare for their upcoming series against England, the team will need to address these issues and find a way to rebuild confidence ahead of the Champions Trophy. The limited number of matches remaining before the tournament makes it imperative for India to maximize their preparations and fine-tune their strategies to ensure they are competitive on the global stage.
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