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The onus can be on Indian batters, significantly the talismanic Virat Kohli, to comply with the trail laid down by skipper Rohit Sharma and tactfully counter the spin problem within the third and remaining ODI in Colombo on Wednesday to keep away from their first sequence defeat to Sri Lanka in 27 years. It is definitely not the beginning Gautam Gambhir, a stickler for victories, would need in his first ODI project because the group’s head coach. India’s earlier bilateral ODI sequence defeat towards the Islanders got here in 1997. The Arjuna Ranatunga-led Lankans then inflicted a 0-3 hammering on Sachin Tendulkar and his males.
Since then, India and Sri Lanka have performed 11 bilateral ODI rubbers residence and away, with the ‘Males in Blue’ rising on the proper facet of the lead to all of them.
India won’t be able to win the present three-match sequence after succumbing to the hosts by 32 runs within the second ODI, and conceding a tie within the first sport.
This place of discomfort is introduced upon the group by the batsmen, who appeared to have been affected by indecisiveness on a RPSC pitch that provided loads of flip to the spinners.
Curiously, none mirrored that brittleness greater than star batter Kohli. He has made 38 runs in two matches, however greater than the quantity of runs, the way of his dismissals evoked better concern.
Kohli seemed subdued within the center, significantly after the fiery begins given by Rohit. Kohli simply wanted to construct on it.
However the grasp batter in him remained dormant as he pottered across the leg-spin of Wanindu Hasaranga within the first match and of six-wicket man Jeffrey Vandersay within the subsequent, earlier than ultimately getting consumed by them.
He seemed a far cry from the dominant batsman who as soon as cracked 4 tons of at this exact same venue. Maybe, Kohli ought to direct his thoughts to happier instances than permitting it to be fettered by the demons of the current.
A flowing Kohli is crucial for India’s wholesome run within the center overs, be it whereas chasing or setting a goal.
However then his turmoil is a real reflection of the wrestle that has gripped the Indian batting unit.
In Shivam Dube, India have a delegated spin-basher, however the left-hander couldn’t even choose a regulation leg-break by Vandersay within the second one-dayer, getting trapped in entrance of the wicket.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul too have lorded over spinners prior to now, however right here their toes and wrists have been unresponsive towards the Lankan sluggish bowlers.
They gave the impression to be going via a short lived reminiscence loss as to learn how to rotate strike, the best weapon to maintain spinners in examine on tracks resembling those on the Premadasa.
They only want to observe the batting of Rohit to discover a treatment – not a lot in his method however extra within the confidence and planning behind his knocks.
There isn’t any have to gild the lily whereas describing Rohit’s batting, nonetheless his taming of the Lankan bowlers – tempo and spin alike – has been distinctive.
Usually a 44-ball 64 would comprise a couple of chancy photographs, however Rohit’s strokes had been so well-calculated that they hardly appeared dangerous.
Can his colleagues take a cue? Parag to get the decision?
From a mixture perspective, the group administration may have a look at the place of Dube, regardless of a 24-ball 25 within the first match.
Underneath the present circumstances, Riyan Parag’s spin, both off-spin or leg-spin, may come handier than the trustworthy medium tempo of Dube, and the previous is an equally good hard-hitter.
From their half, the Indian bowlers too ought to enhance their effort within the enterprise finish as they failed to use ending touches to Lanka after lowering them to 142 for six and 136 for six.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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