3 startling stats from Team India’s ODI series loss to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka hammered India by 110 runs in the third and final ODI of the three-match series at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7. With the win, Sri Lanka registered their first bilateral ODI series triumph over the Men in Blue in 27 years. They previously beat India 3-0 in a three-match series in Sri Lanka back in August 1997.

Like in the first two matches, the Lankans batted first after winning the toss in the third ODI as well. They posted 248-7 on the board in their 50 overs as Avishka Fernando scored 96 off 102 balls, while Kusal Mendis contributed 59 off 82 and Pathum Nissanka 45 off 65. For India, debutant Riyan Parag impressed with 3-54 from nine overs.

In their chase of 249, India were bundled out for 138 in 26.1 overs. Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage was outstanding with figures of 5-27 from 5.1 overs, while Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay chipped in with two each. For the visitors, skipper Rohit Sharma top-scored with 35, while Washington Sundar contributed 30.

Following the conclusion of the ODI series, we take an in-depth look at some statistics that prove how Sri Lanka dominated the series and where India failed.

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#1 Only one Indian batter scored more than 100 runs in the series

India were heavily dependent on Rohit Sharma in the ODIs. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Indian captain Rohit was the leading run-getter in the three-match one-day series. He scored 157 runs in three matches at an average of 52.33 and a strike rate of 141.44. Rohit began the series with 58 in the opening match and went on to register scores of 64 and 35 in the next two games.

Barring the Indian skipper, though, none of the other batters from the visiting side came close to scoring 100 runs in the series. All-rounder Axar Patel was next on the list, with 79 runs from three innings. Virat Kohli managed only 58 runs, while Shubman Gill scored 57 and Sundar 50. Shreyas Iyer (38) and Shivam Dube (34) also had a forgettable series with the bat in hand.

Contrast this with Sri Lanka and four batters finished the series with 100 or more runs. Opener Avishka was the team's leading run-getter, with 137 runs from three innings at an average of 45.67 and a strike rate of 80.12. All-rounder Wellalage scored 108 runs in three innings, averaging 54 at a strike rate of 104.85. Further, Kusal Mendis contributed 103 runs and Nissanka 101.

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#2 Sri Lanka's lower-order batters (No. 7 to No. 11) scored more than 32 percent of the team's runs

Kamindu Mendis made crucial contributions in the lower order. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Team India's woes against lower-order batters in international cricket are well-documented. The recently concluded one-day series against Sri Lanka was another stark reminder of the same. The hosts' lower-order batters (from No. 7 to No. 11) combined to score more than 32 percent of the team's runs.

The Lankans scored a total of 718 runs in the three-match ODI series and 232 of them came from the lower-order. Wellalage scored an unbeaten 67 in the first one-dayer and followed it up with 39 in the second. Wanindu Hasaranga played the first match and contributed 24. Kamindu Mendis chipped in with 40 and 23* in the second and third ODIs, while Akila Dananjaya scored 32 runs in two games.

Compare this to India's lower-order batters (from No. 7 to No. 11) and they scored 26.73 percent of the team's runs. India scored a total of 576 runs in the three matches combined and 154 of them came from the lower-order batters. Sri Lanka were much more proficient in dislodging the tail than their counterparts.

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#3 Sri Lanka's spinners claimed 27 wickets, India's 16

Sri Lanka’s spinners bamboozled India’s batters. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Sri Lanka's spinners dominated the series. India were bowled out in all three matches and the Lankan spinners combined to take a whopping 27 of the 30 wickets to fall.

Leg-spinner Vandersay, coming in as a replacement for the injured Hasaranga, played two games and picked up eight scalps, including a career-best of 6-33. Left-arm spinner Wellalage troubled India again, picking up seven wickets apart from scoring 108 runs. Skipper Charith Asalanka was a surprise success story, claiming six wickets with his off-spin.

Further, Hasaranga picked up three wickets in the only game he played, Theekshana claimed two wickets in one match and Dananjaya one in two.

Looking at India's spinners, Sundar picked up five wickets in three games, Axar and Kuldeep four each, and Riyan three in one match. Despite having more distinguished names, Team India's slow bowlers failed to make the same kind of impact as Sri Lanka's spinners.