Srilanka Thrashed

In a game, in which the one who blinks will lose the game, Srilanka kept on blinking, and lost the series by the margin 4 – 1 to a far more superior Indian team. The only time they came close to winning was during 2nd ODI, but then also they have put a great fight back to come close. I don’t think that India has played some great cricket, but they had done enough to beat Srilanka comprehensively. Srilanka has won the last ODI not because of their great cricket but due to the complacency and care-free attitude of the Indian team.

Even before the series was started, India was the favorites even though Srilanka has beaten Pakistan in Pakistan. The only question that needed an answer was how the Indian batsmen will handle mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis. And the answer given by Indian batsmen was there is no mystery with this spinner. It’s all history. I am wondering how this was happened. Six months before, they are not able to read him. Now they were hitting him to all parts of the ground. Was he lost his magic or they have overcome the jinx? I think Mendis has to do something different as he was now handled by the batsmen very easily. Even in Pakistan, he doesn’t look like picking the wickets.

Indian Performance:

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India’s victory in this series was mainly because of the rampaging form of their batsmen. No need to point anyone for these victories. Because each one of them have put their hands up when the situation raised. Everybody has got atleast a 50 or 100 to their name. The spectacular thing was happened during 3rd ODI, when Sehwag and Yuvraj, one of the most devastating batsmen in all forms of the game, joined together and plundered the Srilankan bowling. That is the least thing any opposition captain does want to happen. They have scored at 8 runs/over and reduced the ODI into a T20. Yuvraj has been consistent throughout the series, while Sehwag was as destructing as ever, but throwing his wicket too early was a cause of concern. Gambhir was in brilliant form, scored a 60+ in first ODI and then a mammoth 150 during the 4th ODI to secure the win for India. Dhoni played responsibly without much risk in all games and ensured that the game was not going beyond India’s reach. What more important is, he kept himself cool during tense situations as a captain. Once again he led the team well. Yusuf Pathan was played some good innings here and there and bowled well in patches.

Even though India has won comprehensively there is lot of areas to improve. Bowling was not upto the mark. They have done just enough to grab the series. Even the ever consistent Zaheer Khan has been taken for runs. Ishant too must work on his variations. Ojha has come good in some games. I think with some more games he will improve his flight and variation. With some part-time spinners India has managed somewhat well to restrict the Srilankans. The injury prone Munaf Patel once again turned to bed instead of ground.

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The place given to Rohit Sharma in this Indian team was a debatable one. After playing in 30+ ODIs he still can’t find his feet. He was an exceptional talent, accepted. But how can you keep a batsman who was failing continuously. In this series also, each time a chance has been given he wasted them. The only innings in which he played well was on last year's CB series final. Another one is Suresh Raina. He has all kind of beautiful shots in his armory and the way he losing wicket after scoring some 30 or 40 runs doesn't argur well. He was becoming more of a utility player than a complete batsman. Irfan Pathan also lost his swinging ability and it's time to find a better all-rounder who was able to bowl this quota of 10-overs without any fuss.

Srilankan Performance:

The main problem with Srilanka was they were still dependent on the old warhorses Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas and the world record holder Muthiah Muralidharan. They were not able to find suitable players for the rest of the team and they were struggling in a big time against a quality opposition, which was not at their best.

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Jayasuriya was always a thorn in the flesh of the Indian bowlers. This time he made them bleed but he was not as sharp as he used to be. He scored a century in the first match and set the tempo for one consolidation win. He was ably supported at the top by Dilshan who was showing the signs of becoming a permanent opener for Srilanka with his big scores. But he needs to consistent to prove himself. This is a mixed series for him with runs scored in some matches and got out for some rash shots at times. Kumar Sangakkara was a in-form batsman for Srilanka, but the problem for them was, he was the only one who was in-form and he couldn't lift the spirits of this Srilankan team to win a match before losing the series. Mahela Jayawardene has found some form in the middle of the series and captained well this below average team. With most of the players in his team were out-of-form, the going is tough for him. Nuwan Kulasekara was the only bowler who seemed to have kind of idea of what to bowl at the Indian batsman. He was a thinking bowler and will be the lead bowler for Srilanka for the years to come. Kandamby also shoவின் ing glimpses of Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva in his batting. But he has work hard on his fitness else he will lose his place this fast paced ODIs.

Failed:

Bowling was a complete disaster for Srilanka with even Muralidharan was failed. India batsmen were handled him in a fearlessly which made him to look like an ordinary bowler. Mendis who was touted as a next big thing in world cricket was given a alarm signal to improve his cerenditals to shine at the world stage. Not much can be said about their fast bowling. Thushara was fast but lacked the control so can be said to other Srilankan fast bowlers. They have missed the accuracy of Vaas dearly, but he couldn't saved this Srilankan team. Batsmen who are not mentioned in the Clicked column can be taken as failed for granted.

Srilanka can only get consolidation from the below fact that they were not beaten by a side which was equal to them. But a team which was far superior in look, the way they play and which was thriving to become a top team in the world. There are problem aplenty for them and they must have known by now.

Well played India. Kudos to you.