In a sequence that can be etched within the annals of Indian cricket historical past for all of the unsuitable causes, Sri Lanka accomplished a humiliating 3-0 whitewash over the Males in Blue.
India undergo humiliating whitewash
The island nation inflicted their first bilateral ODI sequence defeat on India in 27 years, a statistic that underlines the abject nature of India’s efficiency.
The ultimate nail within the coffin was hammered in on Tuesday, as India have been bowled out for a paltry 138 within the third ODI, succumbing to a 110-run defeat. The goal was by no means going to be difficult, however the method during which the Indian batting collapsed was a testomony to the gulf in high quality between the 2 sides.
Virat Kohli’s pleasant gesture of sportsmanship
Amidst the ruins of India’s marketing campaign, one shining second emerged. Virat Kohli, the Indian batting stalwart, displayed exemplary sportsmanship by gifting him a signed jersey to Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis after the match. The gesture was a recognition of Mendis’ excellent efficiency within the sequence, the place he was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victories.
Mendis, who had been a thorn in India’s aspect all through the sequence, was visibly touched by Kohli’s gesture. The change was captured on digicam and shortly went viral on social media, incomes reward from followers and specialists alike. Kohli’s act of grace was a stark distinction to the abject efficiency of his group, and it served as a reminder of the true spirit of the sport.
Right here’s the video:
Kusal Mendis took Virat Kohli’s autograph on the jersey. 🐐🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/o8jq0VwLmY
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 8, 2024
Additionally READ: Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene reacts to Sri Lanka’s historic ODI sequence win over India
India’s batting woes proceed
India’s batting has been a serious trigger for concern in current occasions, and the Sri Lanka sequence solely served to focus on the group’s fragility. The highest order, which is generally the spine of the Indian batting, didn’t ship persistently. Rohit Sharma, Virat, and Shreyas Iyer, all skilled campaigners, seemed out of types.
The center order too was discovered wanting. Rishabh Pant, who has been in wonderful kind within the IPL, struggled to seek out his rhythm. The likes of Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, who’ve proven glimpses of their batting prowess, have been unable to contribute considerably.
Sri Lanka’s bowling assault shines
Sri Lanka’s bowling assault was the star of the present. Jeffrey Vandersay, a leg spinner, and Dunith Wellalage, a younger left-arm spinner, have been the standout performers, collectively choosing up 15 wickets within the sequence. Maheesh Theekshana and Asitha Fernando additionally chipped in with essential contributions. The Sri Lankan bowlers have been disciplined, correct, and diverse their tempo and size successfully, making life tough for the Indian batters.
Highway forward for India
The whitewash towards Sri Lanka is an enormous setback for Indian cricket. The group administration should introspect and make the mandatory adjustments to handle the problems. Constructing a powerful batting lineup must be the highest precedence. The group will even want to seek out the precise stability between expertise and youth.
The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a vital match for India, and the group can be beneath immense stress to carry out. The whitewash towards Sri Lanka has uncovered the group’s vulnerabilities, and will probably be fascinating to see how the group responds to the problem.
