IND vs SL: What is wrong with Indian batters? Netizens stunned seeing batting collapse in Colombo

After allowing Sri Lanka to post 248 runs on the board, the Indian batting lineup, much like in the two previous ODIs, collapsed dramatically at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Shockingly, the Men in Blue lost 7 wickets with just 100 runs on the board. Apart from a strong start by Rohit Sharma, who scored 35 off 20 balls, and a late contribution from Virat Kohli with 20 off 18 balls and debutant scoring 15 off 13, the rest of the Indian batters fell for single-digit scores.

ALSO READ | IND vs SL: Debutant Riyan Parag takes 3 wickets, fans says 'ODI debut to remember'

Shubman Gill (6 off 14), Rishabh Pant (6 off 9), Shreyas Iyer (8 off 7), and Axar Patel (2 off 7) were unable to make significant contributions, leaving netizens shocked. Many took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their disappointment with the Indian team's batting collapse.

Dunith Wellalage picked up 4 wickets for Sri Lanka while Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay picked one each.

Most wickets lost by India to spin in a bilateral ODI series

23 vs SL in Sri Lanka 2024 (3 ODIs) *

22 vs Pak in Toronto 1996 (5 ODIs)

21 vs Pak in Toronto 1998 (5 ODIs)

18 vs SL in Sri Lanka 1997 (4 ODIs)

18 vs Pak in India 2005 (6 ODIs)

Earlier, on his debut, Riyan Parag took 3 wickets for India, while Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Mohammed Siraj each claimed one wicket. Parag, who received the 256th ODI cap for India from Virat Kohli, became the first male cricketer from Assam to make his ODI debut for the country. 

The 22-year-old replaced Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI for the third ODI, as Rohit Sharma and his team aimed to avoid a series defeat in the final match of the three-match series.

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Shreyas Iyer, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

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