Rohit Sharma on Lose 2nd ODI vs SL: A disappointed India skipper Rohit Sharma said the team will have a discussion on how their batting performed in the middle overs after losing to Sri Lanka by 32 runs in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium. This is the second time in two consecutive matches that the Indian middle order failed to capitalise on the quick start provided by Rohit and they crumbled in the face of the turn and grip offered by the dry pitch, with leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay taking 6 for 33. It was also the first time that a spinner took the first six wickets in an ODI innings as India were bowled out for 208 while chasing a target of 241.
Sunday’s defeat ended India’s streak of winning 11 consecutive bilateral series (2+ matches) against Sri Lanka. India last failed to win a bilateral series against Sri Lanka in December 1997. So we have to try to score as many runs as possible in the powerplay.”
Rohit said after the match
”Both the openers were trying to do the same. But today we were not that good. We have played very good cricket before, but I don’t want to focus too much on how we played. But of course, there will be talk about how we batted in the middle overs.” ”You have to adapt to the things that come your way. With the left-right (combination), we thought it would be a little easier to rotate the strike, but it didn’t happen. Credit goes to Jeffrey, who bowled really well and took six wickets. Sri Lanka played really good cricket.”
Rohit further said, “When you lose a match, everything hurts. If you want to win the match, we understand that we have to play consistent cricket and we failed to do that today. A bit disappointing, but such things happen.” Rohit once again displayed his aggressive best to reach a half-century in 29 balls, but went for a high-risk reverse-sweep off Vandersay, and only managed to get the ball on the top edge, which was caught at backward point and dived to take the catch with both hands. He said that despite getting dismissed in India’s defeat, he will stick to his aggressive batting approach.
“I got 65 (64) runs because of the way I batted. When I bat like this, it is inevitable to take risks and I am not afraid to do that. Whenever you get out, whether you score 100, 50 or zero, you feel disappointed if you don’t get over the line. But that won’t change my mind. We didn’t play good cricket, so we lost the match,” he concluded.
After sending Washington Sundar at number four in the first ODI on Friday did not work, India sent Shivam Dube to the same position on Sunday but he got out for a duck. This meant that KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer were again sent down the batting order, which did not yield good results.