India’s Struggles with Bat Continue in Sri Lanka ODI Series
India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar acknowledges the team’s need to reassess their batting strategy after two disappointing performances in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka. The team faced a setback in the first ODI, where they collapsed from a promising 80 for 1 to 132 for 5 while chasing Sri Lanka’s 230 for 8, resulting in a thrilling tie. The second ODI followed a similar pattern as India stumbled from 116 for 1 to 133 for 5, falling short by 32 runs in pursuit of Sri Lanka’s 240 for 9.
Spin Proving to be India’s Achilles Heel
Nayar expressed surprise at India’s struggle against spin, particularly highlighting Jeffrey Vandersay’s impressive performance in the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga. Vandersay claimed six crucial wickets, exploiting the spin-friendly conditions and leaving India reeling. Nayar emphasized that in such conditions, games can quickly turn in favor of the spinners, making it challenging for the batting side.
Adapting to Challenging Conditions
Despite the defeat, Nayar commended Sri Lanka’s bowlers for their skillful display, especially Vandersay’s precise bowling. He noted that India had prepared for spin-friendly pitches but struggled to counter the opposition’s tactics effectively. The team’s decision to shuffle the batting order was aimed at maintaining a left-right combination but did not yield the desired results.
“While the outcome may not have been favorable, the team’s strategy was based on adapting to the conditions and maximizing opportunities in challenging situations,” Nayar explained.