"India finishing 2024 with 0 ODI wins" - Fans slam Men in Blue for ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka
Team India suffered a shocking 0-2 ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka after losing the final encounter by 110 runs in Colombo on August 7. The Lankans batted first in all three outings and used their potent spinners to run through the Indian batters in the second innings.
Coming to the series finale, Sri Lanka had an unassailable 1-0 lead and started in style with the bat at 171/1 in the 36th over. However, the Indian spinners sparked a turnaround to restrict the hosts to 248/7 in 50 overs.
India's run-chase followed a similar pattern to the opening two ODIs with skipper Rohit Sharma starting swiftly before being dismissed for a 20-ball 35. The inevitable collapse followed as India lost 10 wickets for 101 runs to be bowled out for a paltry 138 in the 27th over.
Fans on Twitter were outraged by India's dismal showing, especially with the bat, and shared their emotions with the following reactions:
Fans continued slamming Team India for the shocking series defeat with one saying:
"1st bilateral series loss for India against SL in 27 years.Thanks Gautam Gambhir."
"The way our batters are playing spin, we can't really say to be a spin-dominating team anymore.Before trying to fix anything new, we need to focus on spin, or else we're in serious trouble for the Champions Trophy. This series has been an eye-opener for India," said a fan.
"27 years. This ODI team was our pride. GG has absolutely dismantled it. Batters out of place, no one playing spin well, leaking runs during the death and no one stepping up!" a fan tweeted.
"When you are playing for India there is never going to be complacency" - Rohit Sharma
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma dismissed the notion that the side was complacent against the lowly Sri Lankans in their ODI series defeat.
While India are ranked No.1 in ODIs, Sri Lanka finished outside the top-eight in the 2023 ODI World Cup to miss out on 2025 Champions Trophy qualification.
At the post-match presentation, a disappointed Rohit said:
"I don't think it is a concern (spin problems). But it is something we have to look at individually and as a gameplan. It is a joke, when you are playing for India there is never going to be complacency. When I am captain there is no chance of that. But you have to give credit to good cricket. Sri Lanka played better than us."
Barring the captain himself, none of the Indian batters even scored 100 runs in the three-match series.
The series loss was also India's first in an ODI bilateral series against Sri Lanka since 1997.