Picture :ICC/ X
India Skipper Rohit Sharma played on a different ‘track’ from his teammates, who were thoroughly exposed against quality spin bowling, as Sri Lanka eked out a nail-biting tie against India in a low-scoring first ODI in Colombo .
In a chase of 231, Rohit smashed 58 off 47 balls on a rank turner with variable bounce, taking his team to 71 in 10 overs, but the other batters never looked comfortable against an army of Lankan spinners, as skipper Charith Asalanka got wickets off back-to-back deliveries to play his part in the 44th tie in ODI cricket.
When Shivam Dube (25) hit two sixes and a boundary through extra cover to tie the scores, it seemed like Sri Lanka’s woes would continue. But Asalanka took it upon himself to earn a psychological win for the home team.
Rohit didn’t look one bit rusty during his destructive half-century but the Indian middle-order stuttered badly, showing their ineptitude against slow bowlers.
After the Indian bowling unit collectively put up a good show on a turner, restricting Sri Lanka to 230 for 8, Rohit’s 58 gave India a destructive start.
Things went into a downward spiral after that as Sri Lanka’s battery of spinners, led by Wanindu Hasaranga (3/58 in 10 overs), Akila Dananjaya (/140 in 10 overs), Dunith Wellalage (2/39 in 8 overs) and skipper Charith Asalanka (3/30 in 8.5 overs), not only choked the run flow but also got breakthroughs when necessary.
KL Rahul (31 off 43 balls) seemed to once again play his natural waiting game that has always proved to be detrimental to the team’s cause.
Virat Kohli (23), Shreyas Iyer (24) and Axar Patel (33) all got starts but couldn’t capitalise.
While Shubman Gill (16) struggled at the other end, Rohit treated the Lankan bowlers with disdain. Once he was adjudged leg-before, trying a slog sweep off Dananjaya, suddenly the pitch, which looked easy to bat on, started showing its vagaries.
