IND vs SL: SHOCKING! Janith Liyanage goes against umpire's decision, walks back to pavilion even when not out

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IND vs SL: Sri Lanka batter Janith Liyanage left everyone, especially the coaching staff of his team shocked after he walked back to the pavilion despite not edging an Axar Patel-delivery to slip fielder Rohit Sharma in the first ODI in Colombo on Friday.

Umpire Joe Wilson looked unconvinced by the appeal from India, but raised his finger as Janith Liyanage started to walk back to the pavilion. After the replays confirmed the incident, Sri Lanka coaching staff including interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya were left shell shocked.

On the second ball of the 35th over, left-arm spinner Axar Patel bowled a tossed up delivery to the right-hander as he came down the track in his attempt to send the ball over the boundary rope. However, the ball spun away to hit wicket-keeper KL Rahul's thigh and deflect towards Rohit Sharma who completed an easy catch.

The replays showed the bat just hitting the ground, and making no contact with the ball. The UltraEdge also confirmed no spike. The wicket broke the crucial 41-run partnership off 47 balls for the sixth wicket between Liyanage and Dunith Wellalage.

Janith Liyanage scored 20 off 26, and the partnership came after Sri Lanka were reduced to 101/5 by India. Had the batter shown some presence of mind, the partnership could have helped Sri Lanka to add a few more runs.

Ahead of the first ODI, Sanath Jayasuriya had mentioned about the sharpening of cricket awareness of the Sri Lanka cricket team.

"I don't see a lack of commitment, but they have got to tackle pressure better. Their cricket awareness also needs sharpening. We are taking the responsibility; you can't go away from that. As long as they realise that, and make sure that, we'll have to keep giving them the confidence and support," he had said.

Sri Lanka were whitewashed in the preceding three-match T20I series, and are looking to hand India their first defeat on the current tour. Big guns Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Kuldeep Yadav have also returned for the series.