Cricket

India's batting woes have put them on the brink of a series defeat against Sri Lanka in the ongoing ODI series. The onus is on the Indian batters, particularly Virat Kohli, to step up and counter the spin challenge posed by the Lankan bowlers.Kohli, who has been subdued in the first two matches, needs to rediscover his form to provide stability to the Indian middle order. His dismissals to leg-spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay have raised concerns about his ability to handle the turning ball.Other Indian batters have also struggled against the Lankan spinners. Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul have failed to rotate the strike effectively and have been trapped in front of the wicket.In contrast, Rohit Sharma has shown how to tackle the spin challenge. His well-calculated strokes have allowed him to score runs at a brisk pace. His colleagues need to take a cue from his approach and play with more confidence and planning.From a combination perspective, the Indian team management may consider replacing Dube with Riyan Parag. Parag's spin bowling could be more effective than Dube's medium pace on the turning tracks in Colombo.The Indian bowlers also need to improve their performance in the death overs. They have failed to apply finishing touches to the Lankan innings after reducing them to precarious positions.If India is to avoid their first ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka in 27 years, they need to find a way to counter the spin challenge and improve their batting and bowling performances.

India's Stunning Run Out Seals Victory in Second ODI Against Sri LankaIn a thrilling encounter at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium, India's Shreyas Iyer pulled off a remarkable run out to secure a 32-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI. The hosts had set a target of 241, but India's batting lineup faltered, collapsing to 208 all out in 42.2 overs.The match-winning moment came in the final over of Sri Lanka's innings. With the hosts needing quick runs, Kamindu Mendis attempted a pull shot off Arshdeep Singh's penultimate delivery. The ball flew high into the air, and Mendis scrambled for a run.Iyer, fielding at deep mid-wicket, collected the ball on the bounce and unleashed a lightning-fast throw towards the striker's end. The ball traveled with pinpoint accuracy, dislodging the bails without a bounce. Mendis, caught short of his crease, was left stunned as he walked away without even appealing to the umpire.Iyer's stunning throw not only sealed the victory for India but also highlighted the importance of fielding in cricket. A well-executed run out can often turn the tide of a match, and Iyer's effort was a prime example of this.Despite the victory, India's batting performance was a cause for concern. The top order failed to fire, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan all falling cheaply. Only Suryakumar Yadav (53) and Deepak Chahar (38) offered any resistance.Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Wanindu Hasaranga (3/37) and Maheesh Theekshana (3/45), exploited the Indian batsmen's weaknesses, bowling with accuracy and variation.With the series tied at 1-1, the third and final ODI will be a crucial encounter. India will need to improve their batting performance, while Sri Lanka will look to build on their momentum and secure a series victory.

Kohli's Controversial LBW Review Sparks Debate in India-Sri Lanka ODIDuring the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, a contentious LBW review involving Virat Kohli ignited a heated debate. In the final delivery of the 15th over, Akila Dananjaya's delivery struck Kohli in front of the stumps, prompting an LBW appeal from the Sri Lankan players.Kohli consulted with non-striker Shubman Gill before opting for a review. The third umpire faced a perplexing dilemma as the UltraEdge technology displayed a spike when the ball passed Kohli's bat before hitting his pad. However, visual evidence suggested a significant gap between the bat and the ball at the point of impact.Despite the conflicting evidence, the third umpire ruled in Kohli's favor, leaving the Sri Lankan fielders and interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya visibly frustrated. Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis expressed his exasperation by throwing his helmet on the ground.The incident sparked a heated discussion on social media, with many questioning the accuracy of the UltraEdge technology and the third umpire's decision. Some argued that the visual evidence clearly showed the ball missing Kohli's bat, while others defended the umpire's call, citing the spike on the UltraEdge as conclusive proof of an edge.The controversy overshadowed an otherwise impressive performance by Sri Lanka, who defeated India by 32 runs. Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay was the star of the show, claiming six wickets for 33 runs. For India, Rohit Sharma top-scored with 64 runs, while Axar Patel contributed 44.

India's recent loss to Sri Lanka in the second ODI has raised eyebrows, but assistant coach Abhishek Nayar attributes it to the challenging conditions and Sri Lanka's impressive performance.The pitch's significant turn made even less-skilled spin bowlers a threat, Nayar noted. Sri Lanka's spinner Jeffrey Vandersay bowled with excellent length and kept batters pinned in the crease, contributing to India's loss of six wickets in quick succession.Sri Lanka's lower order batting also played a crucial role. Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis scored valuable runs, pushing Sri Lanka's total to 240 for 9, a formidable score on the turning pitch.Nayar acknowledged that India's batting order adjustments, such as Shivam Dube batting at No. 4 and Shreyas Iyer at No. 6, were not particularly radical. The aim was to maintain a left-right combination against Sri Lanka's spin-heavy attack.Despite the loss, Nayar emphasized the importance of middle order batters playing their natural roles. He believes that the thought process behind the batting order was sound, even if it did not yield the desired results.Nayar also praised Sri Lanka's tenacity and ability to adapt to the conditions. He believes that India needs to analyze the reasons for their consecutive losses and rectify any weaknesses.

Sri Lanka, aiming to secure a series victory after the thrilling tie in the first ODI, opted to bat first in the second match at the R Premadasa Stadium. Captain Charith Asalanka made the decision based on the pitch's expected behavior, which is similar to the one used in the series opener and likely to favor spinners as the game progresses.Sri Lanka made two changes to their lineup. Jeffrey Vandersay replaced Wanindu Hasaranga, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, in a like-for-like legspinner swap. The other change saw batting allrounder Kamindu Mendis, who can also bowl spin, come in for fast bowler Mohamed Shiraz.This move reflects Sri Lanka's anticipation of spin-friendly conditions, leaving them with only one frontline seamer in Asitha Fernando. They also have the option of using Janith Liyanage's part-time medium-pace if necessary. Sri Lanka's spin options include Asalanka, who impressed with three wickets in the first ODI, including two in two balls to secure the tie.India, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged XI. Captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of adaptability, as they prepare for another chase in challenging conditions.

DRS Confusion Irks Rohit Sharma in Sri Lanka vs India ODIDuring the first ODI between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo, a controversial DRS (decision review system) incident involving a wide call left Indian captain Rohit Sharma visibly frustrated.In the 14th over of Sri Lanka's innings, Shivam Dube bowled a delivery down the leg side to Pathum Nissanka. The ball missed Nissanka's bat and flicked his thigh pad on its way to wicketkeeper KL Rahul. The Indian players appealed for a catch, but the umpire ruled it not out.To everyone's surprise, the umpire then signaled a wide. Captain Rohit had a brief conversation with Rahul before deciding not to review the decision. However, as Rohit was returning to the field, he overheard a player saying that he had heard a sound."You should know whether the bat is far from the pad or not. If the bat is away, then he is saying there is a noise for sure," Rohit said, expressing his annoyance.Rahul responded by saying, "In IPL, the reviews can be taken for wides, that's why he is saying."In the Indian Premier League (IPL), teams are allowed to review wide decisions. This rule does not apply in international cricket, which may have contributed to the confusion.The incident highlighted the complexities of the DRS system and the challenges umpires face in making split-second decisions. It also raised questions about the consistency of the DRS process across different formats of the game.Despite the DRS controversy, the match itself was a thrilling tie. Sri Lanka posted a competitive 230 for 8, thanks to half-centuries from Dunith Wellalage and Pathum Nissanka. India's chase was led by Rohit Sharma's 58, but they ultimately fell short of the target.

India and Sri Lanka, locked in a thrilling series, are set to face off in the second One-Day International (ODI) at the R. Premadasa International Stadium on Sunday. The match comes after two nail-biting encounters, with both teams tying one game each.In the first ODI, India's bowlers impressed, led by skipper Rohit Sharma's aggressive opening spell. The team's new strategy of fielding multiple left-handed batters, including Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube, was also evident. However, the hosts' fragile middle order struggled against India's spinners, leaving them vulnerable to collapse.As the teams prepare for the second ODI, the focus will be on maintaining clinical execution and avoiding costly mistakes. The pitch for the first game favored spinners, making it difficult to score boundaries. It remains to be seen if the conditions will be similar for Sunday's match.India will be keen to capitalize on their momentum and secure a victory. Rohit Sharma, who returned to ODIs after the World Cup final, will be looking to continue his impressive form. The team's batting lineup, which includes Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, will be expected to deliver.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back and level the series. Their middle order, which has been a concern, will need to step up and provide support to the top order. The team will also rely on their experienced bowlers, including Wanindu Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne, to restrict India's scoring.With both teams eager to gain an advantage, the second ODI promises to be another intense and closely contested affair. The match will start at 2.30 p.m. IST.

India's bowling coach, Sairaj Bahutule, has revealed the team's strategy of utilizing top-order batsmen as part-time bowlers. This approach, he believes, can provide a "surprise element" against opponents.In the first ODI against Sri Lanka, opener Shubman Gill was given the opportunity to bowl, despite conceding 14 runs in his solitary over. Bahutule emphasized that this strategy will continue to be implemented in the future."Our batters are good bowlers as well," Bahutule said. "They have the skills, even though their primary focus is batting."Bahutule cited the examples of Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh, who bowled in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. He believes that having multiple bowling options, including part-time bowlers, is crucial in the shortest format of the game."It's going to be an all-rounder's game in the coming days," Bahutule said. "If one or two top-order batsmen can bowl, it will definitely help the team, depending on the pitch conditions and situations."Bahutule also acknowledged that Sri Lanka's spinners, Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka, used the pitch conditions to their advantage. He admitted that India could have capitalized on the strong start given by Rohit Sharma, who scored a superb 58 off 47 balls."We did bat well in patches, but we could have had few partnerships that would have taken us home with less wickets going," Bahutule said.Despite the tie, Bahutule praised India's bowling performance and expressed confidence in the team's ability to improve in the upcoming matches.

India's thrilling run-chase in the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday ended in a dramatic tie, with the visitors needing just one run to win with two wickets in hand.Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka (3 for 30) emerged as the unlikely hero, striking twice off successive deliveries to end the game in a bizarre fashion. Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh, who had the responsibility of finding the winning run, both fell victim to Asalanka's bowling.Sri Lanka had earlier posted a competitive 230 for 8 after opting to bat first, led by half-centuries from opener Pathum Nissanka (56) and Dunith Wellalage (67). India's disciplined bowling attack, led by Axar Patel's 2 for 33, kept the hosts in check.India's run-chase got off to a solid start, with skipper Rohit Sharma (58) and Shubman Gill (18) putting on a 75-run opening partnership. However, Wellalage's left-arm spin proved to be a game-changer, as he removed both openers in quick succession.Wanindu Hasaranga then kept India on the backfoot with his spell of 3 for 58, which included the crucial wickets of Virat Kohli (24) and KL Rahul (31). Axar (33) and Dube (25) kept India in the chase, but it wasn't enough.With just one run needed for victory, the last-wicket pair of Arshdeep and Mohammed Siraj had the task of finding the winning run. However, Arshdeep's attempt to hit a boundary proved costly, as he was adjudged lbw.Arshdeep's dismissal sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with some fans criticizing his decision-making while others came to his defense.