Sri Lanka vs India, 2017: 5 reasons why Sri Lanka lost the 2nd ODI

#4 Lack of a solid partnership in the top order

The Sri Lankan skipper has scores of 13 and 9 in the two ODIs

Talking of Sri Lanka’s batting department, the story from Pallekele was almost similar to what unfolded in the first ODI at Dambulla. Apart from Niroshan Dickwella’s modest 31, nobody, barring Milinda Siriwardana and Chamara Kapugedera, could get going.

Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis fell on 19 each, captain Upul Tharanga on nine runs and Angelo Mathews on 20. And just when it seemed that the 91-run partnership between Siriwardana and Kapugedera would take the hosts to competitive total, Jasprit Bumrah gave a breakthrough by removing both the batsman.

The Sri Lankan captain needs to step up for the team in the coming games. His poor performance in the first ODI also came under the scanner.