Team India captain Rohit Sharma does not believe that the Indian team were complacent in Sri Lanka during the three-match ODI series after the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. While responding to a question over the same after India’s 2-0 series loss, he shared the observation as a ‘joke’ as well.
However, Sri Lanka beat the Men in Blue by 110 runs in the third and final ODI of the series at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on
Wednesday, August 7. Batting first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka posted 248-7 on the board. In the chase, India could only manage 138 in
26.1 overs, as Dunith Wellalage claimed 5-27 as well.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Rohit Sharma said, “It is a joke. When you are playing for India, there is no complacency. And, as far as I am here captaining the team, it’s not going to be the case. You come out here trying to win every game. Yeah, we were outplayed throughout the series. You’ve got to give credit where it is due. Sri Lanka played better than us.”
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However, spin was India’s weakness throughout the one-day series as they suffered batting collapses in all three matches. Asked whether it was a matter of concern, he replied: “I don’t think it is a concern. But it is something we need to look at seriously into our individual game plans. [It was] definitely something that we were put under pressure throughout the series with,” Rohit stated.
While Jeffrey Vandersay picked up eight wickets in two matches for Sri Lanka, Dunith Wellalage and Charith Asalanka picked up seven and six wickets, respectively, in three matches each as well. However, India made two changes in their playing XI for the final ODI against Sri Lanka where Rishabh Pant came in for KL Rahul and Riyan Parag in place of Arshdeep Singh but that didn’t help them.
“We looked at the conditions and thought taking the pace off the ball is ideal and we went with that combination. We also have to look at guys who are waiting in the wings. All in all, we didn’t play good cricket throughout the series and hence we stand here with that result,” Rohit Sharma concluded.
