India have lost an ODI series against Sri Lanka for the first time since 1997 - here are the player rankings for the visiting team.
Rohit Sharma: 7/10
157 runs @ 52.33, SR: 141.44
Rohit stayed true to the batting approach he has adopted of late, scoring quick fifties in the first two games. The India captain negated the impact of spin early on and was, by far, the most comfortable batter against the slower bowlers in the series. He loses points as captain, though, both with regards to the XIs picked and the batting order applied.
Virat Kohli: 3/10
58 runs @ 19.33, SR: 85.29
In all three games, India needed the veteran to hold one end up and play his natural game but he disappointed by not crossing 25 even once.
Shubman Gill: 3/10
57 runs @ 19, SR: 61.29
Unlike his opening partner Rohit, Gill seemed to have no answers to the abundance of spin the Sri Lankans dished out at him. He tried hard, facing 93 balls for his 53 runs but couldn't create much of an impact.
Shreyas Iyer: 2/10
38 runs @ 12.66, SR: 97.43
There was a lot at stake for Iyer during the series. Playing his first India game since he was snubbed for the central contract, Iyer, unofficially known as the side’s spin-basher, failed to get going. He was shuffled around in the batting order but the match-ups were favourable.
Sri Lanka defeated India in the third match, securing a memorable 2-0 ODI series win 👏
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 7, 2024
Scorecard: https://t.co/1XJGmM9Fty pic.twitter.com/sGq9YUnehC
Rishabh Pant: 1/10
6 runs @ 6, SR: 66.66
Pant only played the third ODI, making his comeback to the format for the first time since November 2022. However, his return was less than memorable: He first failed to get Maheesh Theekshana stumped as he was slow to whip off the bails and then did not leave an impact with the bat after being promoted to No.4.
Riyan Parag: 5/10
3 wickets @ 18, ER: 6
15 runs @ 15, SR: 115.38
Parag made his debut in the last ODI, with the Indian team looking to strengthen their spin bowling options. The part-timer picked up Avishka Fernando, who was batting on 96, in just his third over and went on to dismiss skipper Charith Asalanka (10) and in-form Dunith Wellalage. With the bat, he came in during a collapse and showed promise, but couldn't go on to save his team from losing the game.
KL Rahul: 2/10
31 runs @ 15.50, SR: 68.88
Rahul made 31 in the first ODI in the run chase of 231, but it wasn't enough to provide any sort of momentum to India as the pace of his knock (43 balls) allowed Sri Lanka to stay on top. In the next game, he was out for a duck after playing an attacking shot and was dropped from the third ODI.
Shivam Dube: 4/10
34 runs @ 11.33, SR: 80.95
1 wicket @ 38, ER: 3.80
Dube bowled 10 overs in the series and there is a case to suggest that the Indian team failed to maximise the conditions on offer by over-bowling their seamers. Despite that, he was economical, although wickets were hard to come by. He also made a quick 24-ball 25 at No.8 in the first game but his efforts went in vain.
Axar Patel: 6/10
79 runs @ 26.33, SR: 73.14
4 wickets @ 28, ER: 3.86
Axar took 57 balls for his 33 during India’s run chase in the first ODI, with his dismissal leaving a steep target for the remaining batters. He, however, turned it around and made a run-a-ball 44 in the next game when no other middle-order batter crossed 15. With the ball, he was as economical, but would have liked to take more wikcets in helpful conditions.
Washington Sundar: 6/10
5 wickets @ 21, ER: 3.88
50 runs @ 16.66, SR: 72.46
Sundar, like his other teammates, also had a middling series. He was excellent in the third ODI where he gave away just 29 in his eight overs, but leaked runs in the first game. He fought hard with the bat in the last two games but had little support.
Kuldeep Yadav: 4/10
4 wickets @ 25.50, ER: 3.40
The pitches had plenty of help for the spinners and Kuldeep would feel disappointed at his inability to take on the chances. He gave away 33 (twice) and 36 in his 10 overs in the three games but India needed him to be among the wickets more than he was.
Mohammed Siraj: 2/10
3 wickets @ 52.33, ER: 6.28
The most expensive bowler across both teams, Siraj was unable to repeat his past heroics against his favourite rivals. He was particularly expensive at the death, where he conceded 65 runs in seven overs at an economy rate of 9.29.
Arshdeep Singh: 2/10
2 wickets @ 52.50, ER: 6.17
Arshdeep, like Siraj, was expensive and did not have much to offer before being dropped from the last game. The fact that his highlight of the series was the ugly hoick he played in the first game when India needed one to win, only to end up missing it and getting out, sums up how his series went.
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