Sri Lanka claimed a historic series win over India in the third and final One Day International (ODI). It marked their first series triumph against India in the 50-over format since 1997. This 2-0 series victory comes as a great morale booster for the Sri Lankan team. It is especially important after their recent failure to qualify for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
The game was held under challenging conditions. It highlighted India's persistent struggle with chasing under lights. Set a target of 249 runs, India crumbled for a mere 138 in 26.1 overs, handing the opponents a comprehensive 110-run victory. This defeat revealed India's inability to effectively chase down targets throughout the series. They have failed with scores of 231 and 241 in the first two ODIs.
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bat first on a dry and abrasive pitch. Their innings were promising, thanks to an 89-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando. Nissanka set an aggressive tone early, dispatching Mohammed Siraj for four boundaries in the initial overs. Despite a top-edged slog-sweep resulting in Nissanka's dismissal by Axar Patel, Fernando continued to anchor the innings with a well-crafted 96.
Fernando's knock was characterized by his adept handling of the spinners. It compensated for a sluggish start against the pacers. His innings included a flurry of boundaries and sixes, particularly in Siraj's second spell, demonstrating his intent to accelerate. Yet, his ambitions of a century were curtailed when he misjudged a full leg break from debutant Riyan Parag, handing India a breakthrough.
Riyan Parag came to strengthen India's middle order. He made an immediate impact with the ball. Parag claimed the crucial wickets of Charith Asalanka and Fernando, sparking a Sri Lankan collapse from 171/1 to 199/6. Despite this setback, Kusal Mendis stepped up for the hosts. He scored a crucial 59 and guiding Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 248/7.
Rohit Sharma provided a fiery start to spark India's hopes. However, the innings quickly unraveled with the fall of Virat Kohli. He suffered a rare run of low scores against Sri Lanka. This became his worst bilateral series performance against them. Kohli's dismissal set the stage for a failure. The Men in Blue lost six wickets within the first 13 overs.
Dunith Wellalage emerged as Sri Lanka's bowling hero, weaving a web of spin that ensnared the Indian batsmen. His left-arm orthodox spin accounted for four of the first six Indian wickets, dismantling the middle order. Wellalage's mastery over variations was on full display. He dismissed key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Axar Patel, and Shreyas Iyer.
India's response to spin woes continued, ending the series with a record 27 wickets lost to spin. This was the most by any team in a three-match bilateral ODI series. Wellalage's five-wicket haul was instrumental in India's downfall. He became the first spinner to achieve this feat against India on multiple occasions.
Sri Lanka's series victory was a result of their strategic approach to building and defending totals. The final overs of their innings consistently provided the necessary momentum. Mendis' contributions proved crucial in the closing stages. Despite India's efforts to fight back through Parag's bowling and a late flourish by Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag, Sri Lanka's total proved unreachable.
This series' defeat exposes critical vulnerabilities in India's ODI setup. It was particularly clear against spin and chasing targets under lights. This win marks a milestone for Sri Lanka, reviving memories of their last series win against India in 1997. As they look forward to more challenges, this triumph offers a foundation for a brighter cricketing future . Meanwhile, the Men in Blue must address their shortcomings as they prepare for tournaments to come.