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In a series that will be etched in the annals of Indian cricket history for all the wrong reasons, Sri Lanka completed a humiliating 3-0 whitewash over the Men in Blue.
India suffer humiliating whitewash
The island nation inflicted their first bilateral ODI series defeat on India in 27 years, a statistic that underlines the abject nature of India’s performance.
The final nail in the coffin was hammered in on Tuesday, as India were bowled out for a paltry 138 in the third ODI, succumbing to a 110-run defeat. The target was never going to be challenging, but the manner in which the Indian batting collapsed was a testament to the gulf in quality between the two sides.
Virat Kohli’s friendly gesture of sportsmanship
Amidst the ruins of India’s campaign, one shining moment 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’ outstanding performance in the series, where he was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victories.
Mendis, who had been a thorn in India’s side throughout the series, was visibly touched by Kohli’s gesture. The exchange was captured on camera and quickly went viral on social media, earning praise from fans and experts alike. Kohli’s act of grace was a stark contrast to the abject performance of his team, and it served as a reminder of the true spirit of the game.
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
Also READ: Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene reacts to Sri Lanka’s historic ODI series win over India
India’s batting woes continue
India’s batting has been a major cause for concern in recent times, and the Sri Lanka series only served to highlight the team’s fragility. The top order, which is normally the backbone of the Indian batting, failed to deliver consistently. Rohit Sharma, Virat, and Shreyas Iyer, all experienced campaigners, looked out of sorts.
The middle order too was found wanting. Rishabh Pant, who has been in excellent form in the IPL, struggled to find his rhythm. The likes of Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, who have shown glimpses of their batting prowess, were unable to contribute significantly.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack shines
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack was the star of the show. Jeffrey Vandersay, a leg spinner, and Dunith Wellalage, a young left-arm spinner, were the standout performers, together picking up 15 wickets in the series. Maheesh Theekshana and Asitha Fernando also chipped in with crucial contributions. The Sri Lankan bowlers were disciplined, accurate, and varied their pace and length effectively, making life difficult for the Indian batters.
Road ahead for India
The whitewash against Sri Lanka is a massive setback for Indian cricket. The team management will have to introspect and make the necessary changes to address the issues. Building a strong batting lineup should be the top priority. The team will also need to find the right balance between experience and youth.
The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a crucial tournament for India, and the team will be under immense pressure to perform. The whitewash against Sri Lanka has exposed the team’s vulnerabilities, and it will be interesting to see how the team responds to the challenge.
