Watch: Young Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage ripped through Rohit Sharma’s defences as he got one to skid off the surface in the Super Fours game in Colombo today (September 12), capping off a brilliant opening spell where he dismissed all of India’s famed top-three.
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India won the toss and chose to bat first against Sri Lanka. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill carried on from they left against Pakistan, giving India another rapid start. They added 80 for the first wicket to go with their century partnership in the last game.
Rohit was the aggressor this time around, as he put on an exhibition of gorgeous shots. Gill took his time and before he could unleash, was undone by a gripping beauty by Wellalage in the 12th over.
Virat Kohli, whose last four ODI knocks at the R Premadasa Stadium including the one yesterday (September 11) have been centuries, came out with a spring in his step but was undone by the guile of the young left-arm spinner. He went onto his back foot to flick a back of length ball but handed an easy catch to mid-wicket instead.
Having already bagged Gill and Kohli, Wellalage wasn’t done yet. Rohit, who had reached his 51st ODI fifty in the 13th over, was done by an arm ball that kept low and skidded through his defences, castling his stumps.
Rohit’s wicket reduced India to 91-3 from 80-3, with all three wickets going to Wellalage. After his first spell, Wellalage’s figures read: 5-1-12-3.
Watch Dunith Wellalage go through Rohit Sharma’s defences and knock his stumps in a triple strike:
Dunith Wallalage is on fire for Sri Lanka! 🔥
All three wickets against India so far 🥵 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/4FcaEBu8BC
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) September 12, 2023