2nd ODI: India look to find a way past SL spinners on a slow pitch
NEW DELHI: Strategies to counter a slow pitch and a variety of slow bowlers from Sri Lanka will be at the top of India’s list of priorities for the second ODI, which is set to take place in Colombo on Sunday.
India lost the first ODI on Friday after chasing a respectable 231 and being well positioned at 130 for three. The Lankan spinners had enough bravery to dismiss the visitors for 230 and force a tie.
After surviving the initial onslaught from Rohit Sharma, Lanka successfully carried out their strategy against the Indian hitters, who are not the most cunning players on rank turners-though few are.
With surprisingly good results, the host team used their army of tweakers to target the core of the Indian top and middle order-Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer.
Though not uncomfortable, the troika was unable to break away due to several well-planned maneuvers made by the accurate and well-resourced Lankans.
Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga tied Kohli down as the Indian batsman faced 29 of the 32 balls that the spinners produced.
Eventually, Hasaranga got the better of him, and with Shreyas comfortable against spinners, Lankan captain Charith Asalanka brought pacer Asitha Fernando into the fold.
Fernando proved his worth by getting rid of Shreyas with a peach, which was also the only Indian wicket to fall to a pacer.
Hasaranga also managed to snatch up Rahul, another outstanding player of spin.
The Indians will be keen to bat long and rotate strike, which is the key to neutralising spinners on such surfaces, but faltering in one match leaves too little of a footprint to pursue some of the accomplished names.
Despite a barrage of wickets at the other end, Sri Lankans Pathum Nissanka and Wellalage demonstrated this en route to their fifties while handling Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar with efficiency.
In contrast to their Sri Lankan counterparts, who leaked 167 in 37.5 overs for nine wickets, the four Indian spinners, including Shubman Gill, leaked 126 in 30 overs for four wickets.
Therefore, the Indians will aim to limit the harm without sacrificing their ability to score runs, according to PTI.
Bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said as much. “We did bat well in patches, and we could have had some partnerships that would have taken us (home) with less wickets going. We tried our best to get into partnerships,” said Bahutule after the first match.
Bringing in Rishabh Pant or Riyan Parag is one option India might consider, as both are excellent at combating spinners and can throw off their rhythm by playing some of those unconventional smashes.
While scooping and reverse-sweeping Washington Sundar and Axar, Wellalage accomplished that to flawless effect.
Parag also brings with him the package deal of being both an off-spinner and a leg-spinner.
It is still to be seen, though, if the Indian team management-which hasn’t been their habit lately-will alter their ways after just one game.
After limiting a far better and far more experienced opponent, Sri Lanka will go into the second game of the three-match series in a healthier mental state.
They will, however, be monitoring Hasaranga’s fitness as he was observed clenching his hamstring near the end of his spell in the first one-dayer.
Teams (from):
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman 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, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando
