Indian coaching staff with Gautam Gambhir in a state of shock confirms Abhishek Nayar after loss to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Cricket Team defeated Team India by 32 runs in the second ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match ODI series at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, August 4, leaving the T20 World Cup 2024 champions reeling and searching for answers.

The Sri Lankans made a game-changing decision by bolstering their lineup with an extra pitcher and bolstering their batting lineup in the second ODI. This strategic move proved to be a masterstroke as the hosts dominated every facet of the game, leaving the Men in Blue in their wake.

Sri Lankan spin attack demolishes India in 2nd ODI

The Sri Lankan spin attack wreaked havoc on India's middle order, which faltered under the relentless pressure, as the tourists were bundled for 208 runs inside 43 overs while chasing a 241-run target to win the match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

Despite India's early breakthroughs with the ball, the Sri Lanka team's lower order managed to post formidable totals in both ODIs. India's bowlers initially had the upper hand, but they failed to put pressure on the Sri Lankan batters and take wickets.

India's woes were worsened by their middle-order struggles, as they found themselves completely outclassed by Sri Lanka's crafty spin bowlers in spin-friendly conditions. After India’s shocking loss to Sri Lanka in the second ODI, the Indian cricket team’s assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar, has described the defeat as an absolute shock and surprise.

He said that Team India needs to research what went wrong with the team as India’s batting line-up collapsed twice in the ongoing ODI series in Sri Lanka. However, the assistant coach felt the lack of partnerships cost them badly in the second ODI against the Islanders.

It was a shock: Abhishek Nayar on Team India's loss to Sri Lanka in 2nd ODI

Abhishek Nayar said, “Was it a shock? I would say yes, there is a surprise. But you anticipate and understand that in these conditions the game can turn on its head because there is so much spin on offer. Even if you look at the last game, it was relatively easy to score against the new ball.

As the ball got older, the conditions when batting second got slightly tougher. Sometimes in tough conditions, especially in the 50-over format, this happens. We want to go back and understand, and rectify, why it happened twice in a row. The day before yesterday, we were able to stitch partnerships. But today we lost quite a few wickets in a bundle.”

Nayar also mentioned that the Sri Lankan bowlers bowled well, and Jeffrey Vandersay, who won the Player of the Match award for his stunning spell of 6/33, bowled the ideal length in these conditions.

He added that when the ball is turning in such conditions and the way Vandersay bowled, used his finger, and bowled stump to stump, such collapses happen, as there was assistance from the pitch.

Abhishek Nayar defended India's strategy against Sri Lanka in Colombo

The assistant coach also believes that there is always less pressure while batting first, but the chasing team faces more pressure because they have to keep an eye on the run rate and wickets. Nayar said that Sri Lanka scored important runs in the middle and lower order, but India failed to do so.

Nayar signed off by saying, “If you look at numbers like four, five, or six, maybe sometimes it can play games in your head. It was more about keeping a left-and-right combination, keeping in mind that there were offspinners and a leg-spinner in the Sri Lanka team.

The thought process was right. When it doesn't work out, these questions are asked often. But I've always believed that if a middle-order batter bats as a middle-order batter, it is the right decision.”