SL vs IND 2024: Three things Team India should do to evade a 'Series Debacle' versus Sri Lanka

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SL vs IND 2024: Team India led by Rohit Sharma succumbed to a disappointing 32-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the second ODI in Colombo. Despite a quick start, the visitors were unable to crack the code in the middle-order that saw them losing the plot completely.

The Men in Blue's recent loss to Sri Lanka in Colombo also ended their streak of 11 consecutive bilateral series wins in ODIs against the island nation. This loss marks the first time in 27 years that Team India has failed to win a bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka where at least 1 match was completed.

For the record, the last time Sri Lanka emerged victorious in a series against India was in December 1997, when they secured a 3-0 win at home under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga. Although India missed a chance to win the series, they should make sure that they don't let the series slip away from their hands. With the series on the line, the visitors should make minor tweaks to evade a historic series defeat.

1. Top order needs to set the tone

Team India haven't had problems dictating the terms in the powerplay overs, with captain Rohit Sharma playing with intent. While the Hitman has donned the aggressor's role incredibly well with two fifties in two games, Shubman Gill, who is on the steep learning curve still has plenty of things to address. The vice-captain didn't provide solid support at the other end, scoring 16 and 35. Besides that, India needs the support of Virat Kohli, who has a terrific track record on this surface with four centuries. The senior pro needs to step up and deliver a strong performance in the must-win game.

2. Cautious yet aggressive approach needed from middle order

India's middle order has been a point of concern. They lacked patience as they fell prey to Sri Lanka's spinners and it was one of the main reasons why they didn't fare well. India's experimentation with the middle-order didn't yield positive results in the series. However, one potential solution could be bringing in Riyan Parag to replace Shivam Dube, who hasn’t made a significant impact so far. Another key change worth considering is replacing wicketkeeper KL Rahul with Rishabh Pant, who can add aggression to the middle order.

3. Bolster the Bowling Attack

The Indian bowling attack might have posed threats to the top-order batters but they lacked the teeth in finishing off the job as they leaked too many runs, especially against Sri Lanka's lower-order batters. To address this concern, Khaleel Ahmed could be brought in to replace Arshdeep Singh, who conceded too many runs and went wicketless in the second ODI. It is imperative for the bowlers to pitch in disciplinary bowling variations of line and length to avoid giving away easy runs.