The Indian cricket team has had a challenging week in Colombo, finding themselves on the brink of losing a bilateral series to Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years. As they enter the decisive game of the ongoing tour, the team led by Gautam Gambhir faces an uphill battle, having failed to register a victory in the series thus far. The primary issue plaguing the Indian side has been their inability to counter the Sri Lankan spinners during the middle overs, leading to two surprising batting collapses.
In the first two games, Indian captain Rohit Sharma capitalized on the new ball to set aggressive tones for the chase, only for the middle-order to crumble against spin. The first match ended in a tie, while the second saw the hosts secure a 32-run victory. Despite these setbacks, Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar remains optimistic, framing the losses as valuable preparation for future high-stakes tournaments.
“Honestly, we are quality players of spin,” Sundar asserted. “We’ve always played on these kinds of wickets even at home, in Tests, and domestic cricket. Many players have excelled in the middle-order against spin. It is just a matter of each player finding their way to get the job done.”
Sundar doubled down on his point by highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the Indian team. “Everyone knows it is a challenging wicket, and the Indian team always puts its hands up when the challenge arises. Historically, we have excelled with both bat and ball, emerging victorious from demanding situations. That embodies the Indian cricket team over the years,” he elaborated. “This series is no different; it’s just about finding individual solutions to perform.”
In the context of the series, India batted second both times. In the first ODI, the team faltered from 75 for no loss to 132 for 5, while in the second, the score plunged from 97 for no loss to 147 for 6. Despite these collapses, Sundar denied that there is any significant advantage for teams bowling second at the R Premadasa Stadium.
. “I feel the pitch is similar in both innings. Maybe in the evening, the ball zips and slides a bit faster, but overall, it plays the same,” he remarked.
One notable observation from the second ODI was India’s apparent reluctance to use their feet against spin, a technique that head coach Gautam Gambhir mastered during his playing days. “He [Gambhir] was a high-quality player of spin. We’ve often seen him put up brave performances against quality spin bowling on challenging pitches. He’s provided us with significant input,” Sundar said. “That’s one of the reasons we practiced today, to figure out how to make those small adjustments.”
With a crucial game ahead, Sundar called on the team to rise to the occasion, emphasizing the importance of stepping up in critical moments, especially with several major tournaments on the horizon. “We know we’re the best team; we just need to put our hands up in those decisive situations. Tomorrow, we have an opportunity to do just that and win the game. Considering the big tournaments coming up, it’s essential for us to figure out how to triumph in similar conditions against strong spin attacks,” he stated.
The narrative surrounding the Indian team’s struggles against spin has led to questions about their preparation and adaptability. Conversely, it also highlights the proficiency and strategic prowess of the Sri Lankan spinners, who have managed to stymie one of the world’s premier batting lineups. Gambhir’s squad needs to find answers quickly if they want to avoid a historic series defeat and reclaim their dominance in the region.
As the final game approaches, all eyes will be on how India plans to tackle the spin question. The match not only holds the promise of an engaging contest but also serves as a litmus test for the Indian middle-order’s resilience and tactical flexibility. The game’s outcome could either mark the end of a rare series loss or the start of a much-needed revival for Indian cricket ahead of an intense tournament season.