India to use Sri Lanka's formula to avoid first ODI series defeat in island nation since 1997?

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After losing the second ODI against Sri Lanka by 32 runs, India are in a spot of bother. The first match ended in a tie, and if India lose the third match on Wednesday, they will suffer their first bilateral ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka since 1997.

India's streak of ten consecutive bilateral ODI series wins against Sri Lanka ended after the hosts trapped the famed India batting unit with their spin bowling. India were cruising at 97/0, but a six-wicket haul from leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay saw the Men in Blue get bundled out for 208.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, who is a part-time off-spinner, has picked three wickets in both the ODIs. India openers forged a 75-run partnership in the first ODI as well, but nine wickets fell to spin later. The match ended in a tie as the visitors failed to chase down 231 on the spin-friendly surface of the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

India to follow Sri Lanka's formula to save ODI series?

Asitha Fernando was the only pacer for Sri Lanka in the third ODI. The islanders had as many as five-bowling options despite the absence of injured players Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga.

On the flip side, India played with two specialist pacers, and a third seam-bowling option in Shivam Dube. They also had three proper spinners in Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, and a part-timer Rohit Sharma. The trio picked six of the nine Sri Lanka wickets. Rohit and Shivam bowled just two overs each.

India have the option of Riyan Parag's leg-spin, and bringing him in the playing eleven by following Sri Lanka's model could be an option. They can also drop Shivam Dube, but that would dent their batting depth under difficult batting conditions.

Riyan Parag was mighty impressive with his spin bowling in the T20I series. He picked three wickets at an average of 20.67 and an economy rate of 6.48. India reduced Sri Lanka to 101/5 in the first ODI, and 136/6 in the second before ending up leaking more than 100 runs on both the occasions. A fourth spin-bowling option is a possibility would be mulling to explore.