Image Credit- AP
India might have done a better job of sweeping the ball. Or at least used the sweep more skilfully (considering that throughout the series, multiple hitters were outplaying that shot).
This, according to India captain Rohit Sharma, is what the Sri Lankan hitters outperformed their opponents during this 2-0 victory. Their ability to extend the India field square of the wicket was superior. For instance, Sri Lanka scored 173 of their 248 runs (or about70%) square of the wicket in the third One-Day International. Out of their runs, just 38 were successful.
“They were consistent with sweeps, taking their chances,” Rohit said of Sri Lanka’s batters. “There weren’t a lot of runs scored down the ground. They didn’t use the feet as much as we expected. It was about using sweeps and piercing that deep square leg and midwicket field. That is something we failed to do as a batting unit. We didn’t play enough sweeps, reverse sweeps, or paddle sweeps, and used our feet too much. That was the difference.
“If you look at Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando today [who put on an 82-run stand], they got a lot of runs square of the wicket. They were using the turn, and sweeping, making the fielder move left and right. They were smart with how they batted and we were not.
“All in all, we need to admit where we have made mistakes, we didn’t dominate against spin. On such wickets, you need to dominate a bit and the Sri Lankan spinners had consistently kept us under pressure in all three games.”
It’s odd to scrutinise India’s batting against spin since, as Rohit and others have emphasised throughout the series, Indian batters are usually accustomed to turning tracks, even though the country’s international limited-overs wickets have recently proven to be favourable for batting.
Currently, it appears that each batter should develop their unique technique when playing on tracks with significant turn. While some people might like to scurry forward more frequently, others could rather delve deeply into their wrinkles. It is said that each batter has a different look when playing spin successfully.
“It is more to do with individual plans rather than us telling them what to do or what shot to play. All these guys have come here playing so much cricket. All of a sudden to tell them to do things a little different – to play the shot that they are not comfortable with – is not ideal.
“That’s where I have said, it’s all about individual plans, how they want to take the bowlers on, what are the shots they want to play. It starts with your training, When you get to your sessions, I can see the guys are working hard in the nets whenever we get the opportunity to train as well. I don’t see there being a lack of effort when we want to try and play different shots.”