India’s Washington Sundar and KL Rahul celebrate the dismissal of Sri Lanka’s Avishka Fernando during their 2nd ODI match, at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 4, 2024
| Photo Credit: ANI

For the Indian fans, the memories of Sri Lankan bowlers like Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis running through the Men in Blue in ODIs would trigger painful memories.

Leg-spinner Jeffery Vandersay joined that list (10-0-33-6) when he spun a web around the Indian batting line-up to bowl his side to a 32-run win in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

Vandersay was an eleventh-hour addition to the squad after Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out on Saturday following a hamstring injury. Playing his first ODI match since January, the 34-year-old had the Indian batters like a cat on a hot tin roof, scalping six in his first seven overs.

It was a case of spectacular implosion from visitors after Rohit Sharma (64, 44b. 5×4, 4×6) lit up the Colombo night sky through his sensational strokeplay in pursuit of 241.

The Indian skipper welcomed Dimuth Wellalage by cutting the left-arm spinner twice and slog-swept him to the square leg fence in the fourth over. The 37-year-old was in a belligerent mood, pulling Akila Dananjaya over long-on and then lofting Kamindu Mendis through extra-cover to bring up his second half-century of the series in style.

But India’s innings crumbled once Rohit was dismissed, caught at point trying to reverse-sweep Vandersay. Shubman Gill was the next to go, edging the leg-spinner to first slip, where Kamindu Mendis pulled off a one-handed blinder. In the same over, Shivam Dube was trapped plumb in front.

Vandersay got his leg-breaks buzzing on a surface that offered grip and turn. He put his side firmly on top when he removed Virat Kohli leg-before and completed his maiden five-for by rapping Shreyas Iyer on the pads with a googly. Rohit’s men plummeted from 97 for no loss to 147 for six in the space of 9.5 overs when K.L. Rahul dragged one onto his stumps.

Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka (three for 20) then weaved his magic again, dismissing Axar Patel (44) and Washington Sundar in his successive overs to close out the game and give the packed crowd its money’s worth.

Earlier, Sri Lanka opted to bat first and posted 240 for nine, riding on some vital top-order and lower-order contributions.

After losing Pathum Nissanka off the first ball to Mohammed Siraj, Avishka Fernando (40) and Kusal Mendis (32) set things straight by stitching a 74-run stand for the second wicket.

Washington (three for 30) got India into the game, removing the two set-batters in successive deliveries across two overs. From 74 for one, Sri Lanka slumped to 136 for six. But like in the first game, Dunith Wellalage’s (39, 35b) late charge helped the Lions get past 200. Wellalage got good support from Kamindu Mendis (40) and forged a 72-run alliance for the seventh wicket as Sri Lanka finished strongly, scoring 44 in the last five. The partnership proved decisive and helped the hosts take an unassailable 1-0 lead.

Riyan Parag. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Going into the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, it was a safe bet that India would field Washington Sundar as the third all-rounder – alongside Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel – considering he was the Player-of-the-Series against Zimbabwe just a few days ago.

But Gautam Gambhir had other plans in his mind in his debut series as a coach as he opted to go in with the part-time spin of Riyan Parag as his sixth bowling option.

The call to go with Parag has been a fruitful one, as he employed his bag of variations with success against Sri Lanka. He claimed three wickets in the first T20I and bowled an economical spell in the second to help India seal the series.

Parag’s ability to spin the ball away from the batters of both kinds with his assortment of sliders and cutters has come to the fore in this series.

In the first game, he rattled the stumps thrice in the death with some fired-in deliveries to help India close out an easy win.

On Sunday, he was entrusted with the full four-over quota by skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Parag varied his pace and length to good effect, conceding just 30 runs in his spell.

Parag’s defensive bowling helped the other Indian spinners, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi, to get on the wicket column.

Despite getting to bat just once – a six-ball seven in the first T20I – Parag would not be a disappointed man, courtesy of his performances with the ball.

For anyone who follows Indian domestic cricket, Parag’s bowling prowess shouldn’t come as a shock.

The 22-year-old is a regular presence with the ball for Assam across formats. He has taken the most T20 wickets (34) for the state in the last five years while going at just 6.44 runs per over.

Parag was also a consistent part-time option for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, until the arrival of the Impact Player rule in 2023. Only three of his 29.1 overs in the tournament have come in the last two seasons.

In his mentorship spells with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders, Gambhir has preferred batters who can also pitch in with the ball.

Parag’s bowling performance this series, along with his ability to bat across the middle order, should augur well for the youngster as India zeroes in on a stable T20 line-up.

T20 Captain Suryakumar Yadhav. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

It was expected for India to win the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, considering the chasm in quality between the two teams and the winning momentum brought in by the away side.

But, the ease with which India outplayed the home team in the first two games and clinched the series would have surprised even the newly installed Indian coach unit, led by Gautam Gambhir.

On Tuesday, Sri Lanka will aim to salvage some pride in the third T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, while India will be looking to flex its squad strength.

Sri Lanka will hope for a better performance from its middle order, which has abjectly surrendered all the momentum gained by its top three in the first two games.

Opener Pathum Nissanka has been punchy with the bat, and along with Kusal Mendis, has provided Sri Lanka with spirited starts.

One-down batter Kusal Perera followed suit in the second T20I with a stroke-filled fifty.

But in both matches, the Indian bowling unit has scythed through the rest of the Lankan batting order, resulting in the home team settling for mediocre scores.

Skipper Charith Asalanka has failed on both occasions, while the experienced Dasun Shanaka is yet to score a run in the series.

Meanwhile, the Indian batting has chugged along with urgency. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav has led by example, scoring a team-high 84 runs at a fiery strike rate of 221.05 in the series so far.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has taken down the Lankan opening bowlers with a range of attacking shots. Shubman Gill looked silky in the first game before missing the next one due to a sore neck.

Calling the shots

On the bowling front, the Indian spinners have called the shots. Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi have out-bowled their Sri Lankan counterparts, while part-time spinner Riyan Parag has offered the requisite backing.

With the series already in the bag, India may look to offer game time to Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar and Khaleel Ahmed, who have been warming the bench.

Also likely in the fray could be Sanju Samson, who replaced the injured Gill in the second match, only to be bowled first ball by Maheesh Theekshana.

With the Sri Lankan men’s team not scheduled to play another game here this year after Tuesday, the passionate cricket fans of Kandy will be hoping for a better exhibition from their side in the third T20I.