Colombo, Aug 5: The hosts lost the T20I series 3-0. Some of their key pacers had to sit out with injury. But that did not stop Sri Lanka to bounce back in the three-match ODI series and stun India.
The spirited home side forced formidable Team India to share honours in the first ODI, with the match tied. Then they outplayed India in the second ODI to lead the three-game series 1-0.
The players of the island nation under their new skipper Charith Asalanka and Interim Coach Sanath Jayasuriya, were so pumped up that they humiliated Team India on Sunday in the second game with a convincing 32 runs defeat.
Alarmgly, the key pattern in both the ODIs was, Sri Lanka batted first, put runs on the board. Then defended well and picked Indian wickets in clusters.
India on the contrary, played fearlessly under new T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and won the T20 series 3-0. But with return of the seniors in the 50-over games, astonishingly they struggled with the bat.
Apart from skipper Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel, almost all Indian batters including veteran Virat Kohli had their share of struggle at the crease.
More shockingly, Indians had difficulty in handling the mediocre spin attack of Lankans and lost wickets at regular intervals or in clusters.
Reacting on Team India losing wickets in clusters in both the ODIs, newly appointed Assistant Coach Abhishek Nayar admitted that it was bit surprising.
Nayar in his post match reaction stated that as the ball got older, the conditions when batting second got slightly tougher. Sometimes in tough conditions, especially in the 50-over format, this happens, he added.
Interestingly, in the first ODI, it was the collective efforts of Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka that spoiled India's party.
But in the second ODI on Sunday, it was Jeffrey Vandersay, who fashioned a memorable win for the island nation.
Leg-spinner Vandersay finished with 6/33 – the third best bowling figures by a Sri Lankan spinner against India in ODIs – including the top four. India were bowled out for 208 in their chase of 240.
India lacked the fighting spirit that they displayed in the first ODI, where they slightly recovered from 136/5 following a crucial partnership between K L Rahul and Axar Patel.
But the misery was more on Sunday, as Team India almost had a meek surrender. But Nayar, stated it was the extra spinning conditions and India batting second on both occasions faced more challenges.
If India can't win the final ODI on Wednesday, the visitors will surely lose the ODI series.
