Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay picked up 6-33 in the second ODI against India on Sunday, making one of the few Sri Lanka slower bowlers who have troubled the side in international cricket.
Here’s a list of the Sri Lanka spinners who have run through India’s batting line-up at least once in their career. While some players were well-known beforehand, others rose to the occasion and made a name for themselves after their performances against India.
Dunith Wellalage (5-40) - 2023 Asia Cup
In September 2023, during a Super Four match of the Asia Cup in Colombo, left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, playing just his 13th ODI, picked up 5 wickets for 40 runs, making waves ahead of the ODI World Cup.
Wellalage dismissed Shubman Gill (19) with his first ball, beating the Indian opener in flight and cleaning him up. The youngster then claimed the prized wicket of Virat Kohli (3), who chipped a delivery straight to short midwicket. Wellalage also dismissed Rohit Sharma (53) and KL Rahul (39) and completed his five-wicket haul by getting Hardik Pandya caught behind for five.
Due to Wellalage's brilliance, India was bowled out for 213. He also showcased his batting skills with a crucial unbeaten 42 but despite his efforts, his team couldn't secure victory as India won the match by 41 runs.
Akila Dananjaya (6-54) - 2nd ODI, 2017
Chasing 231 in 47 overs due to the DLS, India made a strong start with openers Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan making 109 runs for the first wicket. However, Dananjaya broke the partnership by trapping Rohit in front of the wickets in his third over. He then proceeded to dismiss Kedar Jadhav, Kohli and Rahul in his next over as India lost five quick wickets for just ten runs.
Dananjaya completed a five-wicket haul by having Hardik Pandya stumped for a duck and made it six wickets for the match when he trapped Axar Patel (6) leg before wicket. However, MS Dhoni (45*) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (53*) guided India to a remarkable victory.
Jeffrey Vandersay (6-33) - 2nd ODI, 2024
Chasing 241, India's batters were troubled by 34-year-old Vandersay, collapsing from 97-0 to an all-out 208.
Jeffrey Vandersay dazzles as Sri Lanka secures a memorable win over India 👏
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) August 4, 2024
Scorecard: https://t.co/1oTXCbXd6i pic.twitter.com/ZES17fsvwf
Vandersay shattered India's opening partnership, claiming Rohit's wicket after he made 64 runs with a reverse sweep. Gill followed suit, caught at leg-slip with the scorecard reading 116-2. However, with India needing 125 more for a win with several esteemed players still in the ranks, the hosts needed some serious performance to stop the opposition. Entered Vandersay, who dismissed trapped Shivam Dube, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in three successive overs to complete his five-wicket haul. He also sent back Rahul for a duck as Sri Lanka registered a memorable win.
Ajantha Mendis (6-13) - Asia Cup final, 2008
Mendis’ performance against India in 2008 helped him quickly rise to fame, as the youngster recorded Sri Lanka’s third-best figures in men’s ODI history at that point. Mendis made his ODI debut in April 2008 and had been marked as a promising bowler with a five-for in just his fourth innings but his spell of 6-13 against India threw him towards greatness.
He started by getting the wicket of Virender Sehwag, and soon also sent back Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, and Rohit to leave India reeling. He came back to dismiss Irfan Pathan and RP Singh as the team were all out for 173 while chasing 273.
Muttiah Muralitharan (8-87) - 3rd Test, 2001
Not surprisingly, Muralitharan troubled India regularly, picking up eight five-wicket hauls against the side across formats. His best showing against the side was his spell of 8-87 against India in the Colombo Test, when he ran through the first innings, dismissing them for 234. In reply, Sri Lanka made 610-6d and India could not make a comeback in the series.
Besides an eight-wicket haul, he also scalped seven wickets in a Test match in Delhi in 2005. Muralitharan also picked up 7-30 in Sharjah against India in 2000 in the Champions Trophy, his best performance against the side in ODIs. Set a target of 295, India were shot out for 226 with Muralitharan sending back Sachin Tendulkar and following it up with the wickets of middle-order batters Robin Singh, Vinod Kambli, Yuvraj and Hemang Badani.
Rangana Herath (7-48) - 1st Test, 2015
Sri Lanka had been bowled out for 183 in their first innings, following which India made 375 in their second. India were set a target of 176 to win the game, which is when Herath decided to wreak havoc. Opening the bowling on a slow wicket, Herath gave Sri Lanka the early advantage, dismissing Rahul in the fifth over. He proceeded to dismiss seven of the top nine batters, bowling out India for just 112 as Sri Lanka won by 63 runs.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-9) - 3rd T20I, 2021
Hasarana weaved his magic against a second-string Indian team in Colombo, registering 4-9 in the third T20I, still the best figures in the format by a Sri Lanka bowler against India. Hasaranga dismissed Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the space of three deliveries, breaking the momentum of the innings. He had figures of 2-6 after two overs, and conceded just three more runs in his last 12 balls, whilst also picking two more wickets.
India could only make 81-8 in their 20 overs while batting first, with Sri Lanka easily chasing down the target.
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