3 things Sri Lanka need to do right to beat India in 2nd ODI
Sri Lanka are well and truly in with a chance in the three-match ODI series against India after the series opener ended in a thrilling tie. The Lankans, despite being ravaged by injuries, has certainly not made the entire tour a cakewalk as expected for India, and a potential series lead in the ODI series will be a huge statement.
Sri Lanka showed their resilience in the first ODI by clawing their way back into the game from a point where everything seemed lost. However, they did make things easy for India for the majority of the contest with the batting unit's poor show and the makeshift pace attack's lack of potency.
Although the end result certainly puts Sri Lanka in good light, the negatives do outweigh the positives. They have to be at the top of the game the second time around, especially considering that India will come hard at them after failing to secure a series lead.
On that note, let us take a look at three things Sri Lanka needs to do right to beat India in the 2nd ODI
#1 Go all out with four frontline spinners
Sri Lanka's injury woes continued as Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a hamstring injury. The mystery spinner played a huge role in the series opener, picking up three crucial wickets.
The injury will now bring forth a forced change for Sri Lanka in the second ODI, but it is also an opportunity for them to try something radical. The series opener showcased that spin bowling dictating the proceedings, with the hosts only using 10 overs of pace bowling.
Debutant Mohammed Shiraz largely struggled, and his natural trait of inswingers is hardly a matchup against Rohit Sharma, who played the flick and pick-up shots with ease. The right-arm pacer eventually ended with figures of 0-25 off his four overs.
With Sri Lanka having a spinner adept at bowling with the new ball in Maheesh Theekshana, he can partner Asitha Fernando at the start. Charith Asalanka is more than capable of bowling out his overs, particularly against the left-handed heavy Indian batting unit.
Jeffrey Vandersay can also be included as Hasaranga's replacement in a straight swap, giving Sri Lanka all potential options and versatility when it comes to the spin department.
#2 The top order should not be hiding in a shell
On a surface that progressively slowed down as the game went on, the best time to bat may perhaps be right at the start. The Indian seamers did get movement and troubled the Sri Lankan top order, but they had to brave it since they were the ones in form.
Sri Lanka only scored 37 runs in the powerplay in the first ODI, while India recorded almost double of that. While it is not a directly comparable trait, considering the difference in the bowling attack's prowess and the conditions, Sri Lanka can take a page off that book.
A combination of incessant strike rotation, coupled with punishing the bad balls at all costs can help Sri Lanka maximize the fielding restrictions and give their side the early momentum before the Indian spinners would inevitably bounce back and take control in the middle overs.
#3 Try to negate match-ups as much as possible
Due to the versatile spin attack that India also have in place, they have an answer to the Sri Lankan batting unit, which they somewhat showed in the first ODI.
Like India, Sri Lanka also have a lot of left-handed options in their batting unit, but none in the top four. So, a possible floating option, perhaps Dunith Wellalage or Charith Asalanka batting a bit higher when Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are operating may not be the worst idea.
As far as the left-handed pair are concerned, they did an excellent job shutting down the right-arm off-spinner Washington Sundar. The all-rounder conceded 31 runs off 34 deliveries against the left-handed batters, and that hugely benefitted Sri Lanka.