New Delhi: Team India hit a new low after a crushing 32-run defeat against Sri Lanka in the 2nd ODI between the two sides at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. After a tie in the series opener, the Indian batters once again faltered in a run-chase as spinner Jeffrey Vandersay powered the hosts to a comfortable victory with a brilliant six-wicket haul.
India were asked to chase down a target of 241 runs on a tricky pitch in Colombo and got off to a strong start after a 97-run stand between openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill for the first wicket. Skipper Rohit went all guns blazing on the top en route to his brilliant knock of 64 runs off 44 balls. However, despite the good start, India collapsed in the run-chase.
With the first ODI ending in a tie, the defeat in the 2nd ODI on Sunday means for the first time in 27 years, India have failed to win a bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka, which at least had one completed match. The last time India failed to win an ODI series against Sri Lanka was in December 1997 when the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in India.
Sri Lanka last defeated India in an ODI series in August of the same year when Arjun Ranatunga-led side defeated Sachin Tendulkar-led India 3-0 in a five-match series at home. Since 1997, India have won all their bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka where at least one match has been completed. However, the streak came to an end on Sunday with India’s defeat in the 2nd ODI.
With only one game left in the three-match rubber and Sri Lanka 1-0 up, India cannot win the series. Since 1997, India and Sri Lanka have played a total of 11 bilateral series with India winning each one of them. The two teams also played a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka in 2006. However, all three matches in the series were washed out due to rain. The series was thus abandoned without a single match.
New low under head coach Gautam Gambhir
India have hit a historic low in what was head coach Gautam Gambhir’s first ODI series since taking over the reins from Rahul Dravid. India did manage to win the T20I series 3-0 but have been far from clinical in the ODI series so far. After failing to chase down a target of 231 runs in the 1st ODI, Indian batters failed to deliver once again in the 2nd ODI.
India will hope to salvage the series with a victory in the 3rd and final ODI between the two teams on Wednesday, August 07. The Men in Blue will aim to avoid their first ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka since 1997 and draw the three-match series 1-1 with a victory in the third game.
India suffered a new low after a shocking 32-run defeat in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday. For the first time in 27 years, India have failed to win a bilateral ODI series against the hosts. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
