5 instances when Sri Lankan cricketers owned India

#2 Ajantha Mendis’s 6-13 at Karachi, 2008

This onslaught from Mendis was devastating for India

This was in Asia Cup 2008 when India were the favourites throughout the tournament before they met Sri Lanka and Mendis’s onslaught in the final. Batting first, Sri Lanka put up a total of 273, which didn’t appear daunting for a highly-rated batting line-up that India boasted of.

Virender Sehwag started the chase frenetically, beating up the Sri Lankan bowling en route his 36-ball 60. But then unfurled Mendis’s magic. Sehwag was stumped off his mystery delivery in the 10th over and India’s scoreboard read 76-2 as Gambhir had earlier departed on 6.

Only two balls after sending back Sehwag, Yuvraj was bowled. Soon Suresh Raina also had to walk back. Rohit Sharma was so clueless about Mendis’s mystery spin that he was trapped LBW. Following that, Irfan Pathan could only edge to slip. And when the batting greats had failed, how could have RP Singh played the spinner?

Singh was bowled for a duck. From 76-2 to 173 all out, India crumbled and crashed, courtesy Mendis 6 for 13 in 8 overs. Sri Lanka won by 100 runs.