India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson fail again as Indian middle-order collapse – Indian middle-order collapsed against Sri Lankan spin bowling of Wanindu Hasaranga and R Mendis in the third and final T20I against the host here at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Thursday. Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad were dismissed in the first five overs of the game.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s twin strikes has the visitors reeling!
🇮🇳 are 29/4 after 6 overs. #SLvIND | https://t.co/mYciWl62Z7 pic.twitter.com/djOl5ixWRN
— ICC (@ICC) July 29, 2021
Also Read: IND vs SL 3rd T20I: Sandeep Warrier makes India debut in the series decider
India captain Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed in the very first over of the innings and the Indian middle-order was expected to take the team’s total forward. However, as soon as the Sri Lankan spinners came on to bowl, Indian batters were under pressure. India’s number 3 in this match Devdutt Padikkal was removed in the fourth over by R Mendis. In the next over, Wanindu Hasaranga, who is ranked number 2 in ICC T20I bowlers ranking, picked two crucial wickets of Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Stats
Lowest score at the fall of 5th wicket for India in T20Is
32/5 v Aus Melbourne 2008
36/5 v SL Colombo RPS 2021 *
37/5 v Aus Bridgetown 2010
39/5 v NZ Nagpur 2016
India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20: With another below-par performance in T20I, the doors for T20 World Cup is almost closed for Sanju Samson. An average of 13.75 across eight games with sufficient opportunity to bat at the top-order doesn’t bode well for Samson at a time when Indian cricket’s talent cupboard is overflowing with riches.
Rishabh Pant has left him far behind in terms of performance and Ishan Kishan, in the limited chances that he has got, has done no harm to his reputation.
India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20: With KL Rahul also wicketkeeping option in white-ball cricket, it is high time that the Kerala man justifies the show of faith by the Indian cricket system.
While Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal will be disappointed to have missed the opportunity to capitalise their debut series.
