IND vs SL 2024, 3rd ODI: India player ratings as batting unravels in disappointing defeat
Team India suffered their first ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka in 27 years as they came undone at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7. The hosts clinched the three-match affair 2-0 after the opening game ended in a tie.
The coin didn't favor Rohit Sharma once again, and batting was relatively easy in the first half of the first innings. The pitch started playing tricks in the chase, and India didn't do themselves any favors with some poor shot selection and application.
On that note, here are India's player ratings from the third ODI against Sri Lanka.
IND vs SL 2024: Rohit briefly attacks before middle-order tumbles
Rohit Sharma: 6.5/10
Rohit seemed to be finding the boundary at will on a tricky track before attempting an ill-advised heave across the line. The Indian skipper was the standout batter once again but ended the series without a single long knock. His captaincy was questionable.
Shubman Gill: 3/10
Gill seemed off-color for the third game running. He danced down and tried to flat-bat one that kept low, on a pitch that was not going to assist such an approach. It was a disappointing dismissal.
Virat Kohli: 4/10
Another big-name Indian batter who seemed off the pace, Kohli missed an arm ball from Dunith Wellalage by a mile and a half. Even if the ball had turned, he would've likely been bowled through the gate. The No. 3 wasted a review to go with a horror shot.
Shreyas Iyer: 2/10
Shreyas just wasn't able to stamp his authority on the Sri Lankan bowlers. He played an indecisive nudge to a ball that was a regulation arm ball on the stumps to be trapped in front.
Rishabh Pant: 1/10
Making his comeback to the ODI side, Pant missed a stumping out of sheer laziness and played a terrible shot to be dismissed cheaply in the second innings. It was a forgettable performance from the keeper-batter.
Shivam Dube: 5/10
Dube bowled a tight spell with the new ball. He was always going to struggle in the second innings and missed a slog to be out LBW.
Axar Patel: 6/10
Axar ended up as India's most expensive frontline spinner on the night. While he didn't have much to work on within the first half of his spell, the left-arm spinner didn't do enough once the pitch started to turn. He was castled comprehensively in the second innings.
Kuldeep Yadav: 7/10
Kuldeep's 10 overs went for 36 runs, and he needed to wait until the last over of his spell to secure his only scalp of the game. While it's hard to pinpoint exactly what he did wrong, the spinner wasn't as penetrative as he'd have liked.
Washington Sundar: 8.5/10
Sundar surprisingly bowled only eight overs. He was economical and picked up a wicket too, and followed it up with a handy 30 lower down the order that featured a couple of nice hits over the fence.
Mohammed Siraj: 1/10
Siraj turned in arguably one of his worst displays in an Indian shirt as he sprayed the ball all over the place and almost single-handedly took Sri Lanka to a defendable total. He leaked 78 runs in nine overs and even had words to say to the opposition batters, who were carting him to all corners of the ground.
Riyan Parag: 8/10
Making his ODI debut, Parag was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he picked up three wickets using his accuracy and variations. He seemed on course to chip in with the bat as well before an ill-adjudged leave.