In a thrilling Super Over, Suryakumar Yadav's precise sweep sent the ball straight to a fielder, a shot reminiscent of his earlier dismissal. However, this time, the fielder's awkward attempt to stop the ball ended in a fumble, allowing it to roll away for a boundary. This mishap mirrored Sri Lanka's overall performance in the series—marked by potential, yet overshadowed by critical errors and missed opportunities, culminating in a loss on Tuesday night.
Sri Lanka needed just 28 runs from 29 balls with nine wickets in hand but found a dramatic way to lose. The middle order collapsed once again, highlighting their ongoing struggles. Often, the blame in such scenarios falls on the losing side for failing to chase the target, overshadowing the opposition's bowling efforts. India, with a solid bowling lineup, used part-timers Rinku Singh and the captain himself in the final overs, despite having more experienced bowlers available. Surprisingly, they managed to defend nine runs in the last two overs, thanks to some poor shot selection from the Sri Lankan batsmen, who repeatedly found the fielders instead of the gaps.
After the game, the Indian captain praised his team's confidence and positivity, while Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka, visibly disheartened, attributed their loss to poor shot selection by the middle order. This issue is particularly concerning, considering the players involved—Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Asalanka himself—are experienced cricketers. Asalanka hinted at drastic changes, suggesting that replacing underperforming players might be necessary.
Despite the 3-0 series defeat, there were positives for Sri Lanka. They often competed strongly against the world champions, holding the upper hand at various points. Notably, their top order showed resilience, and in the third game, the bowlers performed admirably, reducing India to 48 for 5. This performance was commendable, especially as they played without their key bowler, Matheesha Pathirana, who was injured.
As the series concludes and attention shifts to the more significant ODI leg, Sri Lanka's management should recognise that they are still two years away from the next major T20 tournament. Despite the losses, the team has shown they have more strengths than weaknesses, offering a foundation to build upon for the future.