IND vs SL: "Career-Defining Spell" - Fans React To Dunith Wellalage's Fifer Against India In Asia Cup 2023
Published - 12 Sep 2023, 08:28 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 09:47 AM
20-year-old Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage rattled the Indian batting lineup in the Super 4 match on Tuesday in Colombo. Playing just his third ODI against India, Wellalage picked up 5/40 in his 10-over spell against the Men in Blue.
Wellalage struck with India on 80 for no loss. From 80 for no loss, he dismissed Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Shama to bring India down to 91/3.
The R Premadasa track was a different one for Tuesday’s game with the spinner having a bigger say in the game. Wellalage took three wickets in three consecutive overs dismissing Gill, Kohli, and Rohit. Rohit was dismissed just after he reached his 51st ODI fifty. The ball kept lower than Rohit expected and beat his defense.
KL Rahul (39) who scored his sixth ODI ton on Monday against Pakistan also struggled to pick up the spin variation from Wellalage. After a 63-run stand between Rahul and Kishan (33), the partnership was broken by Wellalage again as he puzzled Rahul into his dismissal.
Also Read: IND vs SL: Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli Become Fastest To Achieve 5000 ODI Runs Milestone As A Pair
Thus after picking up the top four Indian batters, Wellalage came back to dismiss Hardik Pandya as he picked five of the top six Indian wickets. This is his maiden ODI fifer and his best ODI figures to date.
X Praises Dunith Wellalage’s Spell Against India
Admittedly, the track is a good ally, but Wellalage has been excellent. The promise he showed as a standout U19 cricketer is bearing fruit
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 12, 2023
congrats wellalage for your csk contract
— vishal dayama (@VishalDayama) September 12, 2023
Taking a 5-fer in an ODI is an outstanding accomplishment…but removing 5 out of the top 6 batters is a rarity. That too against a team like India with Kohli-Rohit-Gill-Rahul in it. Take a bow, Wellalage ?♂️ #IndvSL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 12, 2023
Second five-wicket haul for a left-arm spinner in as many days at the R Premadasa Stadium. Dunith Wellalage has been on fire today. What a spell! #INDvSL #AsiaCup2023
— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) September 12, 2023
What amazing talent is Dunith Wellalage. He was playing in the U19 World Cup only a year ago and now a 5-wicket haul against the best batters of spin. A career defining spell.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) September 12, 2023
Dunith Wellalage be like pic.twitter.com/i4U9h0wXU8
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) September 12, 2023
Five wicket haul by Dunith Wellalage.
He absolutely bossed the Indian batting order! pic.twitter.com/OK9zNU5e7o
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 12, 2023
Five wicket haul for Dunith Wellalage.
What a spell – he has removed the backbones of Indian batting with Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Rahul, Hardik. pic.twitter.com/9mcj85YQbe
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 12, 2023
Just look at these photos of Dunith Wellalage when he was 15. His helmet was bigger than his head but his calibre, as an all-rounder, will take him to great heights. A superstar in the making. Sri Lanka is in safe hands. #INDvsSL #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/yJ4xHWMe3L
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) September 12, 2023
Five wicket haul for Dunith Wellalage.
What a spell – he has removed the backbones of Indian batting with Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Rahul, Hardik. pic.twitter.com/9mcj85YQbe
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 12, 2023
Maiden Five-fer Alert! ? Dunith Wellalage was on fire today, delivering an incredible performance! ?#LankanLions #AsiaCup2023 #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/oSwR44qC2I
— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) September 12, 2023
Sri Lankan spinners to take 5-wicket haul against India in ODIs
M Muralitharan 7/30
Ajantha Mendis 6/13
Akila Dananjaya 6/54
Dunith Wellalage 5/40#SLvIND #INDvSL #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/yFwKiQ2bP3— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) September 12, 2023
What amazing talent is Dunith Wellalage. He was playing in the U19 World Cup only a year ago and now a 5-wicket haul against the best batters of spin. A career defining spell.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) September 12, 2023
Youngster Dunith Wellalage achieved a remarkable feat as he secured his maiden 5-wicket haul, single-handedly dismantling a formidable Indian batting lineup. His bowling performance was nothing short of incredible! ???#AsiaCup2023 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/P4TCzb7p7y
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 12, 2023
To rattle the Indian batters the way he did especially after what they did against Pakistan was special. The pitch in Colombo on Tuesday has had considerably more turn there was on Monday. Due to Dunith Wellalage’s spell, India are now struggling to get to 250 after they looked good to score beyond 300 after the kind of start they had.
India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have won one game each in the Super 4 stage of Asia Cup 2023 so far. The team that wins this match will close in on getting into the final of the tournament.
