"Just a matter of finding a way" - Washington Sundar downplays India's batting collapse in first 2 ODIs against Sri Lanka
All-rounder Washington Sundar did not read too much into Team India's batting collapse in the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka. He asserted that the visitors are quality players of spin and added that they just need to find a way individually to get the job done.
The Men in Blue are 1-0 down in the three-match series. The first ODI was tied as India went from 75-0 to 230 all out in a chase of 231. In the second match, the visitors collapsed from 116-1 to 208 all out, chasing 241. The third and final match of the series will be played at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the game, Sundar backed India's batters to lift their game in the must-win clash. He was quoted as saying by PTI:
"We are quality players of spin. We've always played in these kinds of wickets, even at home, in Test matches, and in different formats. Even in domestic cricket, we play a lot of games in such wickets. And we know a lot of our players have done really well, especially in the middle order, batting against spin. So it's just a matter of finding a way, their own individual self, and trying to get the job done."
"Everyone knows it's quite a challenging wicket. Obviously, the Indian team has always put its hands up, especially when the challenge arises. And that's when we've been very good, both with bat and ball, and we've come out flying colours out of the challenging situations," Sundar added.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma scored half-centuries in the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka, while Axar Patel contributed 33 and 44. The rest of the batters have failed to make much of an impact.
"Opportunity for us to win those critical situations" - Sundar ahead of 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka
India will be under pressure going into Wednesday's match. Sri Lankan bowlers have proved too good for them for two games in a row and the final match will also be played at the same venue in Colombo. Sundar, though, reckons that the must-win game is an opportunity for India to test themselves ahead of the Champions Trophy next year.
"It is an opportunity for us to go out there and put our hands up and win those critical situations. Obviously with the big tournaments coming up, we will be in similar situations and it will be important to find ways as to what we can do to win those critical situations especially in similar conditions against quality spin attack," the all-rounder commented.
The last time India lost a bilateral series against Sri Lanka in one-dayers was way back in 1997. Sri Lanka will be keen to end the drought with a win on Wednesday.