INDIA STUNNED BY SRI LANKA IN TRIAL BY SPIN

“Old habits die hard!” This adage comes to mind when describing India’s recent ODI series loss to Sri Lanka which was expected to be a straightforward contest for the Men in Blue. Fielding a relatively experienced side with quite a few senior players, India’s depth and talent were supposed to see them through comfortably but ended in a stunning defeat.

What has transpired in Lanka was a stark reminder of a lingering weakness in Indian cricket: the susceptibility of their batsmen to high-quality spin bowling. Sri Lankan spinners in full flight secured a historic 2-0 series victory, exposing the frailties that have haunted Indian batting for years.

Although Rohit Sharma was the top scorer for India and looked in fine touch in the series, his luck wasn’t the same when it came to the tosses. India lost all 3 tosses and had to bat second in every game when the conditions were far more challenging. In the first ODI at Colombo, Indian batsmen found themselves on a pitch that offered significant turn from the very start. But Sri Lanka had put up 230 on the board and after a 75 run opening stand between Rohit and Gill, Lankan spinners came to the party and put the brakes on run scoring. The match was eventually tied as India lost their last 2 wickets of 2 balls.

The second ODI was no different and after an initial stutter, Sri Lanka got to 240 , which looked like a formidable total on a turning track. But it wasn’t until India’s opening stand of 97 was broken. The floodgates then opened and soon India slumped to 147 for 6.Eventually, Team India lost the match by 32 runs as newbie Jeffrey Vandersay tormented the Indian batsmen. His leg spin proved to be a big mystery, reminiscent of Ajantha Mendis in his prime. He proved to be too much for the Indian batsmen to handle and his spell of 6 for 33 was crucial in restricting India after a fine start.

In the final ODI of the series, India lost the plot completely and were blown away by Lankan Lions. They lost the match by 110 runs after Lanka had managed to post 248 on board. This was a massive win for Sri Lanka as they won a series against India after 27 years, ending a losing streak of 13 consecutive series. Also , the Sri Lankan spinners took 27 Indian wickets in the series, making it a record!

The Indian cricket team’s struggles against quality spin are not new. While India is often hailed as the land of spin, Indian batsmen have often shown vulnerability against top-tier spin bowling. The recent series loss in Sri Lanka revives memories of similar struggles in the past, most notably during the 2008 Test series against Sri Lanka.

That 2008 series is best remembered for the debut of Ajantha Mendis, a spinner who burst onto the scene with a bag of tricks that left the cricketing world in awe. Mendis, with his unique carrom ball, flippers, and googlies, wreaked havoc on a star-studded Indian batting lineup that included legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, and Sourav Ganguly.

Sadly, it seems the ghosts of the past still haunt Indian batsmen. While the pitches in Sri Lanka were by no means unplayable, the lack of adaptability and poor shot selection by Indian players against spin were glaring. This susceptibility to spin, especially on turning tracks, has cost India dearly in several recent encounters, not just in Sri Lanka.

In the 2021 Test series against England in India, India lost the first Test in Chennai after their batsmen struggled against the off-spin of Dom Bess and the left-arm spin of Jack Leach. Similarly, in the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, Indian batsmen found it tough to score against the spin of Mitchell Santner, which played a key role in their eventual exit from the tournament.

For India to overcome this persistent issue, a more focused approach towards playing spin is needed. Indian batsmen need to develop the patience to grind it out on turning tracks. There should be more emphasis on footwork, using the crease effectively, and deploying shots like the sweep and reverse sweep (also stated by Rohit in post-match conference), which can disrupt a spinner’s rhythm.

Furthermore, India needs to ensure that young players get to face quality spin regularly. With the advent of flat tracks and the prominence of pace in domestic cricket, this aspect seems to have been somewhat neglected. Perhaps with Champions Trophy just a few months away, the series loss has served India a wake up call just at the right time!

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Siddhaarth Mahan The writer is a specialist on Sports and Cinema who works as an actor in the Hindi film industry