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.