On Sunday in Colombo, strategies to counter a slow pitch and a variety of slow bowlers from Sri Lanka will top the India list of priorities for the second ODI.
With a reach of 130 for three after chasing 231, India lost the first ODI on Friday. Forcing the tie, Lankan spinners were courageous enough to dismiss visitors on 230.
The plan was effectively carry out by Lanka as they withstood an initial jolt delivered by Rohit Sharma against Indian batters who are not masters in these slow turners though some are.
Host team used their army of tweakers surprisingly with good results that targeted at the core of Indian top and middle order namely Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.
Although not overly uncomfortable, troika failed to escape due to multiple well thought-out moves made by accurate and well-resourced Lankans.
Dunith Wellalage (left-arm spinner) and Wanindu Hasaranga (leg-spinner) kept him tied up. The other two came off balls produced by spinners from which he faced 29 at all.
Eventually Hasaranga got him whereas Lankan captain Charith Asalanka threw pacer Asitha Fernando into the mix since Shreyas is comfortable against spinners.
Fernando justified his inclusion when he dismissed Shreyas with a beauty which was also the only wicket taken by an Indian pace bowler.
Hasaranga also managed to snatch up Rahul another excellent player of spin.
Indians will be looking to bat deep; rotate strike because this is how you can see off spinners in such conditions but failing one match leaves too little mark behind pursuing some accomplished names.
While handling Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar efficiently, Nissanka Pathum and Wellalage demonstrated this en route to their fifties despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
Contrary to their Lankan counterparts who let in 167 in 37.5 overs (9 wickets), the four Indian spinners inclusive of Shubman Gill, went for 126 runs off 30 overs (4 wickets).
According to Parami News, the Indians will look to contain without compromising on their scoring potential.
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana.
Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka,Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage Chamika Karunaratne Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana and Asitha Fernando.
