Hosts Sri Lanka ended a three-year wait on Sunday as they took down India to lock in their first ODI win over their Subcontinent neighbours since July 2021. Now, they hosts are on the brink of securing a massive ODI series win.
Ahead of the third ODI, here’s my match preview.
India have now choked in two games in a row, their star-studded batting line-up once again not turning up despite captain Rohit Sharma giving them a blazing start in the two innings.
The Indian spinners once again spun a web around the Sri Lankan top and middle batting order, reducing them to 136/6 before yet another rescue act from Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis got Sri Lanka to a respectable total of 240.
It would be concerning for Rohit Sharma and the Indian management that their bowlers let Sri Lanka off the hook again, given it’s been these extra runs from the Lankan lower order that have come to bite them later on. With Jasprit Bumrah being rested for this series, it’s important for the likes of Arshdeep Singh to show that they are ready to lead the bowling attack in the future.
Wanindu Hasaranga suffered a hamstring pull in the first ODI, which led to the all-rounder missing out the second ODI as he was replaced by Jeffrey Vandersay.
Chasing 240 in the Subcontinent for a line-up boasting the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul would generally be a walk in the park. Sharma and Gill gave India the perfect start in the last game, but the middle order failed and crumbled under pressure again.
The Men in Blue have tried Washington Sundar and Axar Patel up the order in the opening two games. While Patel got runs in the second ODI, he could not get his team over the line. Vandersay, who has had a stop-and-start career, bamboozled the Indian batters with an incredible six-wicket haul as, barring Sharma, Gill, and Patel, no one really got going. Kohli and the returning Shreyas Iyer looked good but were caught on the crease by the 34-year-old.
For a side known to be strong in the face of spin bowling, being caught out twice by the likes of Dunith Wellalage and Jeffrey Vandersay would be a cause of concern.
Both games have had the Indian lower order having too much to do, with none of the recognised batters being able to bat with the tail. The final match will take place once again at the R Premadasa in Colombo, which is turning out to be an ideal track for the spinners.
Spin will once again be the key, but even though they have dropped the ball twice, count on the experience and talent of the Indian team to take the win and tie the series.
Fantasy XI: Rohit Sharma, Prathum Nissanka, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Charith Asalanka, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kuldeep Yadav, Dunith Wellalage, Mohammed Siraj, Akila Dananjaya
Venue: Colombo
Winner Prediction: India
Also watch: India v Sri Lanka T20I series review
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