Losing to Sri Lanka was unexpected, particularly given India's recent dominance over them. However, the challenging conditions played a significant role. Abhishek Nayar, India's assistant coach, shared his insights after the second ODI, which India lost by 32 runs.
Nayar noted that Sri Lanka's spinner, Jeffrey Vandersay, excelled with his precise lengths and the lower order’s resilient batting was a key factor in India’s defeat. The pitch offered substantial turn, making even less experienced spinners a threat.
"Was it a shock? Yes, there is definitely an element of surprise," Nayar admitted. "But in such conditions, the game can change quickly due to the excessive spin."
He pointed out that while scoring was relatively easier against the new ball, the conditions became tougher as the ball aged, especially when batting second. This unpredictability is inherent in the 50-over format.
"We need to analyse and address why we faced similar issues in both matches. The previous game saw us build partnerships, but today we lost several wickets in quick succession," Nayar explained.
India’s collapse occurred between the 14th and 24th overs, where they lost six wickets for just 50 runs, all to Vandersay. His tight lines and significant turn, combined with effective length and flight, kept India’s batters in check.
Sri Lanka, initially struggling at 136 for 6, managed to reach 240 for 9. Dunith Wellalage contributed a crucial 39 off 35 balls from No. 7, and Kamindu Mendis added 40 off 44 at No. 8. These lower-order runs proved significant on such a pitch.
"When batting first, there’s less pressure compared to chasing," Nayar noted. "Chasing involves managing run rates and wickets. Wellalage’s innings, both in this game and the previous one, were crucial."
Regarding India’s batting order adjustments—Shivam Dube moved to No. 4, Shreyas Iyer to No. 6, and KL Rahul to No. 7—Nayar felt these changes were not radical but aimed to maintain a left-right combination at the crease.
"In any sport, position matters only if you’re playing in different phases of the game. We lost wickets in the middle phase, which is where the middle-order batters came in. The positions themselves are less significant compared to the balance and match-ups," Nayar explained.
He concluded, "The strategy was to manage the left-right combination against Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers. When the approach doesn’t work, questions arise, but I believe the decision to use middle-order batters in their roles was appropriate."