5 stand out performers of the India vs Sri Lanka ODI series

In the recently concluded three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka (SL), the home team defeated the visitors 2-1, and won their eighth consecutive bilateral ODI series. In the absence of Virat Kohli, stand-in captain Rohit Sharma led the team to victory.

The journey towards the trophy was not easy, as the Indians were convincingly defeated by the Lankans in the first ODI played at Dharamsala. But team India bounced back strongly, and won the second ODI played at Mohali by 141 runs.

By virtue of a complete all round performance, the Indian team defeated Sri Lanka in the series decider played at Vizag, and clinched the series 2-1.

There were many commendable performances in the series, both with the bat and the ball. Here we will look at the five players who stood apart from the rest in the series.

5. Rohit Sharma

The “Hitman” carried his great form from the test series to the ODI series, and was at his very best, especially in the Mohali ODI.

Sharma’s batting was not up to the mark in the Dharamsala ODI, where he could manage to score just 2 runs, before he lost his wicket to Suranga Lakmal. But in the second ODI played at Mohali, he replied to his critics strongly by scoring a double hundred. He reached the hundred-run mark in the 40th over of the innings, at a strike rate of 86.95.

But it did not take much time for the skipper to shift his gears, as he started dealing only with boundaries. He scored the other half of the double century in just 36 balls at a strike rate of 277.77. At the end of the innings, Sharma remained unbeaten on 208 of 153 deliveries, including 13 fours and 12 sixes.

Sharma became the only batsman in the history of the game to have scored three ODI double hundreds. He ended up as the leading run scorer of the series, with 217 runs in three innings at an average of 120.56

4. Yuzvendra Chahal

The right-arm leg break bowler once again troubled the opposition with his bowling in the ODI series. Chahal played a crucial role for the team in the middle overs of the innings, because of his ability to take wickets along with having control on the flow of runs.

In the Dharamsala ODI, Chahal did not get a chance to bowl, but in the next two matches he proved his worth in this Indian team. With his witty leg breaks, he ran through the Sri Lankan lower middle order in the second ODI at Mohali.

Chahal took important wickets of the Sri Lankan batting in the likes of Sadeera Samarawickarma, Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera in the middle phase of the innings in the Vizag ODI, gave away just 42 runs in his 10 overs and ensured a low total on the board for the visitors.

Chahal ended up as the leading wicket taker of the series, with 6 wickets in his pocket, at an economy rate of 5.30 in two innings.

3. Upul Tharanga

Upul Tharanga [file photo]

The most experienced Sri Lankan batsman in the current squad, Tharanga was consistent throughout the series. With his aggressive batting, in three matches, he scored 151 runs at an average of 50.33, and was the second best batsman for Sri Lanka after Angelo Mathews, in terms of number of runs scored.

In the Dharamsala ODI, while chasing a low total of 113 runs, Sri Lanka lost Danushka Gunathilaka in the 4th over of the innings. But this did not affect Tharanga’s aggressive approach towards the chase, and he scored 49 runs in 46 balls at a strike rate of 106.52 including 10 fours in it. He scored only 7 runs in the second ODI at Mohali, but came back strong in the decider played at Vizag. Tharanga, with 12 fours and 3 sixes, scored 95 runs at a strike rate of 115.85, before he was stumped out by M.S.Dhoni off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav.

Although Tharanga’s consistent performances in the series were not enough to get the Lankans over the line, his presence in the team has brought strength to the SL batting line-up.

2. Shreyas Iyer

The 23-year old has been the best find for the Indian team in this series. Iyer started his ODI career in Dharamsala. He was asked to fill the important number 3 position of the batting line-up in the absence of Virat Kohli, and he did not disappoint.

Iyer had a forgettable ODI debut, as he scored just 9 runs in 27 balls at a strike rate of 33.33, before he was dismissed by Nuwan Pradeep in the 14th over of the innings. But made a very strong comeback in the next match at Mohali, as he went on to score splendid 88 runs at a strike rate of 125.71, including 9 fours and 2 sixes.

Iyer, along with Shikhar Dhawan, added 118 runs for the second wicket in the decider played at Vizag. In the same match, with 8 fours and 1 six, he scored 65 runs in 63 balls.

Iyer ended up with a total of 162 runs in three matches at an average of 54.00 and became the third highest run scorer of the series.

With players like Iyer doing well in the early phase of their career, the future of Indian cricket seems to be in safe hands.

Shikhar Dhawan

The left-hand Indian opener was brilliant in the series. With a total of 168 runs in three matches at an average of 84.00, Dhawan won the Man of the Series award.

Dhawan was dismissed for a duck in the first ODI played at Dharamsala. But the story did not repeat in the Mohali ODI, as he went on to score vital 68 runs in 67 balls, including 9 fours in it.

He, along with Sharma, built a 115-run opening partnership, which laid a strong base for the innings to grow. In the Vizag decider, with 13 fours and 2 sixes, Dhawan scored a magnificent unbeaten 100 runs, and took his team home to the series victory.

In the Vizag ODI, Dhawan achieved another milestone, as he became the second fastest Indian after Virat Kohli to complete 4000 runs in ODIs.