Sri Lanka seek batting overhaul in quick turnaround time

A 21-step stride towards the crease by a broad-shouldered, 6-foot 4-inch figure can seem imposing, but Shivam Dube releases the cricket ball with all the urgency of a leisurely afternoon stroll, at a modest sub-130 kmph. The Sri Lankan top order, which had opted to dig in on Friday, made the medium pacer appear more menacing than he actually was in the first ODI. The slow pitch at the R. Premadasa Stadium might have been his ally, but the batters' reluctance to put him under pressure proved to be his greater weapon.

Even his mid-120 kmph deliveries were made to look like a jaffa when Kusal Mendis was trapped LBW while playing the wrong line to an angling-in delivery that had just slightly straightened after pitching. Yet, that was merely one ball in a spell of 24 that Sri Lanka had faced from Dube, the genial medium pacer who was allowed to operate comfortably within his limitations.

By then, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Sadeera Samarawickrama had abandoned their natural flair and curbed their attacking instincts. In the process, Dube, who is on trial as the backup for Hardik Pandya, not only claimed his maiden ODI wicket but also managed to stick to his limitations and get away unscathed. Perhaps the existing concerns of the middle order for Sri Lanka, despite a couple of personnel changes, prompted the trio to be conservative. A brief collapse that followed before Dunith Wellalage mounted a fightback brought sense to their approach.

As Sri Lanka missed yet another chance to win from a dominating position, their winless streak continued. Nonetheless, escaping with a tie provided a much-needed boost as they prepare to face the same opponent at the same venue on Sunday. But will that result be enough to allow their in-form top-order batters to play with greater freedom?

While Dube's underutilized bowling skills were pressed into duty for more reasons than one in the first ODI, India even employed the services of Shubman Gill for an over, as their seventh bowling option, only a day after announcing that they won't be using this ODI series as a practise ground. Gill's bowling is merely an extension of what the new team management has done on this tour with its part-time bowlers, which include Riyan Parag, Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh. The increased bowling involvement of part-timers is a move India had attempted in short bursts under the previous coaching regime, but it has now picked up frequency and consistency. Whose turn will it be next as look to continue their control in the middle overs?

When: Sunday, August 4, 2024, 2:30 PM (Local Time)

Where: Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd ODI, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

What to expect: Scattered thunderstorms are predicted for Sunday. It may not impact the game much, which is expected to be another low-scoring encounter

Team News:

Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the remainder of the ODI series with a left hamstring injury and has been replaced in the squad by Jeffrey Vandersay. With Mohamed Shiraz not having much of a role to play in the first ODI, the hosts could be tempted to replace him with a fourth frontline spinner on a track expected to aid the tweakers.

Probable XI: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Mohamed Shiraz/Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana

India: The visitors took a rest day ahead of the second ODI. They may not want to tinker much with their Playing XI.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh/Khaleel Ahmed

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What they said:

In the top 4 or 5 if someone can bowl, it always helps the team. Looking forward, there will be contributions. And depending on the situation and pitch conditions, in which way we can use the bowlers and somebody who can bowl as a batter can be a surprise element to the opposition. I'm sure moving ahead there will be ample opportunities for the batters to bowl - Sairaj Bahutule, India's spin bowling coach

I did (believe we could defend the total), but we should have done a bit more well to restrict them under 230... I am happy about the the energy in the field and the way the boys played in the second half - Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka captain