Rohit Sharma is the only Indian batter to score a half-century in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Te hosts are leading the three-match series 1-0 after the first game ended in a tie.
New Delhi: Rohit Sharma’s availability in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka on Wednesday is in doubt after the Indian skipper didn’t train at all on Tuesday, according to reports. The India opener, who is the only batter to score a half-century in the ongoing series, reportedly sustained a thigh injury in the second game and didn’t bat in training on Tuesday. In fact, he also didn’t take part in the fielding drills.
Rohit felt discomfort on his right thigh in the second ODI while batting and was attended by the physio. While there hasn’t been any official statement from the team management, it looks like a precautionary measure for Rohit. In case, Rohit misses out, Shubman Gill is likely to don the captain’s hat.
In the third ODI, the onus will be on Indian batters, particularly the talismanic Virat Kohli, to follow the path laid down by skipper Rohit and tactfully counter the spin challenge to avoid their first series defeat to Sri Lanka in 27 years. It’s certainly not the start Gautam Gambhir, a stickler for victories, would want in his first ODI assignment as the team’s head coach.
India’s previous bilateral ODI series defeat against the Islanders came in 1997. The Arjuna Ranatunga-led Lankans then inflicted a 0-3 hammering on Sachin Tendulkar and his men. Since then, India and Sri Lanka have played 11 bilateral ODI rubbers home and away, with the ‘Men in Blue’ emerging on the right side of the result in all of them.
India will not be able to win the current three-match series after succumbing to the hosts by 32 runs in the second ODI, and conceding a tie in the first game. This position of discomfort is brought upon the team by the batsmen, who seemed to have been plagued by indecisiveness on a RPSC pitch that offered plenty of turn to the spinners.
