"No need to be selfless" - Salman Butt blames Rohit Sharma's reckless shot for India's embarrassing defeat vs Sri Lanka in 2nd ODI

The former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has ripped into India's batting strategy following their 32-run defeat against Sri Lanka in the second ODI on August 4 in Colombo. Butt slammed India’s top players, including Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, for their struggle against spin bowling.

The former Pakistani batter also pointed out a crucial blunder by Team India captain Rohit Sharma during their embarrassing loss to the Sri Lanka cricket team in the second ODI on Sunday. Despite being in sublime form and already making 64 runs, Sharma’s reckless shot while his team was struggling against the spinners has been labeled as a match-losing error by Butt.

Salman Butt slams Rohit Sharma's reckless shot after India's defeat to Sri Lanka in the second ODI

He questioned Rohit’s decision to play a big reverse sweep off Jeffrey Vandersay as the Indian opener was eventually caught out at a backward point by the Pathum Nissanka. Butt argued that Sharma’s decision to play an audacious shot was completely unwarranted, given the manageable target of 143 runs remained with 10 wickets in hand against Sri Lanka in the second ODI.

The former Pakistan captain expressed disbelief over Rohit’s lack of caution, especially with India's batting lineup struggling against spin in recent matches. He emphasized that, at that moment, there was no justification for such a high-risk play. Butt said that it seemed like Rohit was adopting a T20 approach rather than playing the measured innings needed for his team at that time.

With the target being within reach, the Indian skipper’s ill-timed shot left the rest of the team scrambling and ultimately failing to chase down a reachable target against Sri Lanka. Butt also highlighted a broader concern about Team India’s top-order vulnerability against spin and their inability to capitalize on favorable positions.

Rohit Sharma should have finished the game for Team India: Salman Butt

Salman Butt said on his YouTube channel: “The thing is that in India's recent history, spinners are not in control of what it used to be. And India's top players are struggling against the spinners. And if there was one person who was really in control of this match and who could have finished the game, it was their captain, Rohit Sharma.

And after making 64 runs, the shot he played, knowing that his team's batting is struggling, if you look at the last one or two matches, then they are not playing so well against spin. And because Rohit Sharma is in very good form. And there was no need to be selfless here.”

Butt added that the target was not big, as 97 runs were already made in 13 overs and the Men in Blue only needed 143 runs with 10 wickets in hand to win the game. He continued, “So, I don't think there was any such bowling of Sri Lanka that India's batting could not score these runs. So, I think the rest of the players didn't understand what happened.

But the shot that Rohit hit, I think if it was a T20I match or if there was a big target, then it's fine. But initially, getting through a tough period, scoring runs, having a good partnership, and starting your own, then why has he not batted long and finished the game?”