India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd ODI: What went right for the hosts
The Rohit Sharma-led Team India hit back at Sri Lanka with vengeance, after a mortifying defeat at Dharamshala, to win comprehensively by 141 runs at Mohali on Wednesday.
Thisara Perera won the toss and invited the Men in Blue to bat on a track which appeared to have a bit of spice at the outset. But, this proved to be a mere illusion as the Indian batting pulverised the visitors at the PCA stadium.
Riding on Rohit's 16th ODI century, the hosts posted 392/4 in 50 overs, but in response, the visitors could manage just 251/8.
The three-match ODI series is now levelled at 1-1 and the deciding final ODI will be played at Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
Now, let's have a look at everything that went right for Rohit Sharma's men as they emerged victorious in the must-win game at Mohali.
#5 Cautious start against the new ball
Sri Lanka pacer Suranga Lakmal wreaked havoc with the new ball in the swinging conditions at Dharamshala to take a 1-0 lead in the series on Sunday.
India were put in the same situation by Thisara Perera on Wednesday, but the outcome was a striking contrast of the what had happened three days ago.
Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma faced the new ball with extra caution in the first Powerplay, to lay the strong foundation for a colossal score of 392.
India, who scored just 33 off the first 10 overs, followed their familiar template of going slow in the Powerplay to build in the middle and explode at the death.
Seeing off the new ball and waiting for the opportune moment to pounce was indeed a masterstroke.