India lose their 1st match under Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir as Sri Lanka win second ODI by 32 runs

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India lost their first match under the Rohit Sharma-Gautam Gambhir era as Sri Lanka won the second ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium by 32 runs on Sunday, August 4.

The match was the recap of the first ODI but just that the match did not end in a tie this time around. Chasing 241, India were cruising at 97/0 in 13.2 overs, but they were soon reeling at 147/6 in 23.1 overs before eventually getting bundled out for 208 in 42.2.

Notably, India were 75/0 while chasing 231 in the last match. Also, Sri Lanka managed to post 230/8 after being five down for 101 in the first ODI. Likewise, they were 136/6 in the second game, but managed to post 240/9 at the end of 50 overs.

Also, Sri Lanka spinners starred once again to run through a very strong Indian batting unit. Jeffrey Vandersay, who came in as a replacement for injured Wanindu Hasaranga on the eve of the second ODI, registered his career best figures of 33/6 in 10 overs. Like the first ODI, captain Charith Asalanka once again chipped in with three wickets.

Rohit Sharma (64 off 44), Shubman Gill (35 off 44) and Axar Patel (44 off 44), who was promoted to bat of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, were the only three India batters who scored more than 15 runs for their team.

Virat Kohli (14), Shivam Dube (0), Rahul (0) and Iyer (7) were all dismissed by Vandersay. Rohit and Gill also fell to the 34-year-old wrist spinner.

Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka lower middle-order batters and tail-enders collected 44 runs from the last five balls. They scored 104 runs off the last 15 overs.

Dunith Wellalage, who smashed an unbeaten fifty in the previous game, scored 39 off 35 after walking in to bat at seven. Kamindu Mendis came to bat after him and scored 40 off 44, while Dananjaya also chipped in with 15 off 13.

Sri Lanka are now leading the series 1-0 and a win in the third ODI will see them seal the series 2-0. India's streak of 10 consecutive bilateral ODI series wins against Sri Lanka also ended after the spirited show from the hosts. The third and final ODI will be played on Wednesday, August 7.