"Very bad shot selection" - Charith Asalanka tears apart batters after Sri Lanka lose thrilling 3rd T20I to India

The Charith Asalanka-led Sri Lanka National Cricket Team locked horns with the Suryakumar Yadav-led India National Cricket Team in the 3rd and final T20I of the India tour of Sri Lanka 2024 on Tuesday, July 30, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Charith Asalanka's team entered the third T20I after losing the first two matches, which resulted in a series loss for them. It was a poor display from the team in both bowling and batting departments that led to the hosts facing huge defeats against the Men In Blue.

In the first match, the bowlers looked clueless when the Indian batters launched an attack in the first half of the innings. Although they made a small comeback in the second half, it wasn't that effective as India, anyway, posted 213/7 on the board.

Chasing the target, the opening pair of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka came out all guns blazing and laid a perfect platform for the run-chase. However, a shocking batting collapse meant that they were restricted to 170 runs in 19.2 overs, losing by 43 runs.

The story was kind of the same for the Lankan Lions in the second T20I, as after a good start with the bat, they faced a collapse and only posted 161/9 on the board, which looked like a below-par score.

And when India were given a revised target of 78 runs due to rain interruption, the Sri Lankan bowlers didn't bowl well and allowed them to chase the score with 9 balls to spare and 7 wickets in hand.

I am really disappointed about our batting line-up, middle-order and lower middle-order - Charith Asalanka

Talking about the third T20I, Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first in the match. All the bowlers did a great job in the first innings and restricted the power-packed Indian team to 137/9. Chasing the target, just like the first two matches, the top order fired, and it looked like the Lankan Lions would easily win. However, they lost 7 wickets for 29 runs in the last 5 overs and weren't able to bat well against Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh, which resulted match going into Super Over.

In the Super Over, they scored just 2 runs as Nissanka and Perera got out inside three balls. And when it was their turn to bowl, they allowed the run-chase to be completed on the first ball.

At the post-match presentation ceremony, Charith Asalanka said that he was extremely disappointed with the batting performance of the Lankan Lions and he crictised the shot selection of the batters. Charith Asalanka said:

"I am really disappointed about our batting line-up, middle-order and lower middle-order. Very bad shot selection was the reason."

Talking about the change in the batting order, Charith Asalanka revealed that they promoted Wanindu Hasaranga to hit some boundaries, which he failed to do. Charith Asalanka further said that they need to deliver better batting performances in the ODI series against India. Charith Asalanka elaborated:

"Spinners were bowling that's why Hasaranga came up the order. He had the license to hit one or two boundaries, that didn't happen. Wrong shot selection on this pitch. Definitely (it was gettable), we need to do more as professional cricketers. I want to see good batting performances in the ODIs. Our top three and four have done well and that's the only positive for us."

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and India National Cricket Team will be next seen in action in the three-match ODI series. The matches are scheduled to be held on August 2, 4, and 7 in Colombo.