First time in 27 years: India achieves unwanted feat after ODI defeat against Sri Lanka

When Team India’s batting fell to 208 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, the team received an unwanted prize. The defeat meant that this will be the first time in 27 years that India have failed to win a bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka in which at least one match was completed. India have won 11 consecutive bilateral ODI series since 1997 but that streak will come to an end here as India can manage a 1-1 draw in the series at best.

It’s not the ideal note for Gautam Gambhir to begin his tenure as India’s new coach. After winning the T20I series 3-0, India’s batting failed to fire in the first two ODIs.

It is important to note the caveat to India’s winning streak as the two nations drew a series in 2006 when all three ODIs were washed out and could not be completed.

India vs Sri Lanka second ODI: how it happened

Opting to bat, Sri Lanka managed to recover to a total of 240 thanks to a 72-run partnership between no. 8 Dunith Wellalage and no. 9 Kamindu Mendis. In response, India registered an opening partnership of 97 runs, with Rohit Sharma scoring 64 off 44 balls.

However, India suffered a dramatic batting collapse, losing 6 wickets in the next 50 runs, tottering at 147/6.

Shivam Dube and KL Rahul escaped while Virat Kohli scored just 14 runs off 19 balls.

Axar Patel – who came in to bat at no. 5 – looked to initiate the rescue act, giving a run-a-ball 44. But when he got out with India at 185/7, it was always going to be a difficult task.

Sri Lankan leg-spinner Jeffrey Vanderspray rocked the Indian batting line-up, taking six wickets, while captain Charith Asalanka contributed three.