Wasim Jaffer raises questions on former teammate Gautam Gambhir after India's shambolic series defeat vs Sri lanka

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has expressed concern about the Rohit Sharma-led team's performance ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Wasim Jaffer said that the Men in Blue have only three ODIs remaining before the ICC event, which is scheduled to be played in February-March next year.

The Indian National Cricket Team started the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka with a tie. They failed to chase down the 231-run target despite being in a winning position. Rohit Sharma and company lost the next two matches and conceded a 2-0 lead to the opposition team in the recent ODI series.

The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team registered a 110-run victory in the third and final ODI match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7. This marks India's first bilateral ODI series loss to Sri Lanka in the last 27 years. India last lost to the Islanders in a bilateral ODI series back in 1997.

Sri Lanka Played Better Cricket And Deserve The Series Win - Wasim Jaffer

After the third ODI match, Wasim Jaffer acknowledged that Sri Lanka played better cricket across the three matches, adding that they deserved the series win. Wasim Jaffer said that he wasn't worried by India's series loss but mentioned the Rohit Sharma-led team's limited ODI matches before the Champions Trophy.

"SL played better cricket and deserve the series win. It doesn't worry me that India lost a series. Wins and losses are part of the game. However it's a point of concern that India has just 3 ODIs before the Champions Trophy. #SLvIND," Wasim Jaffer wrote on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account.

SL played better cricket and deserve the series win. It doesn't worry me that India lost a series. Wins and losses are part of the game. However it's a point of concern that India has just 3 ODIs before the Champions Trophy. #SLvIND

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 7, 2024

India will play their next ODI series in February next year. They will face the England team in a three-match series at home. The Champions Trophy is scheduled for February-March in Pakistan. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to request the ICC to consider a hybrid model for the event.

Sri Lanka Create History During 3rd ODI vs India

Charith Asalanka opted to bat first after winning the toss in the final match of the series. Opener Avishka Fernando fell short of a century and was dismissed for 96 runs. Former skipper Kusal Mendis added 59 runs to help Sri Lanka reach a total of 248 runs. Riyan Parag took three wickets for 54 runs in his debut ODI.

India started the run chase aggressively, with Rohit Sharma scoring 35 runs off 20 balls. However, the India team collapsed from 53/2 to 101/8. Washington Sundar hit a couple of boundaries before India was bowled out for 138 runs. Sri Lankan bowler Dunith Wellalage took five wickets for just 27 runs in 5.1 overs.

Avishka Fernando received Player of the Match for his impressive performance with the bat in the last match. Dunith Wellalage was named Player of the Series for his all-round contributions throughout the series against India.

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