Watch: Kusal Mendis asks for special gift from Virat Kohli after third ODI; Indian great accepts

Sri Lanka's top-order batter Kusal Mendis shared a special moment with former Indian skipper Virat Kohli after the third and final ODI match between the two teams. Virat Kohli gifted his autographed jersey to Kusal Mendis in a heartwarming gesture, and the video went viral across social media platforms.

The Sri Lankan team registered a convincing 110-run victory in the third ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7. The home team clinched the bilateral ODI series victory over India after 27 years. The Charith Asalanka-led team ended the series with 2-0 after losing the T20I series.

Watch - Virat Kohli Gifts His Signed Jersey To Kusal Mendis

After the ODI match, Kusal Mendis requested an autograph from Virat Kohli on his jersey. In the viral video, Kohli was seen signing the jersey and sharing a lighthearted moment with Mendis near the boundary ropes. The former Sri Lanka skipper was pleased with the gesture and rejoined his teammates afterward.

Kusal Mendis took Virat Kohli's autograph on the jersey. 🐐🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/o8jq0VwLmY

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 8, 2024

Kusal Mendis scored 59 runs off 82 balls, including four boundaries, as Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 248 runs. Mendis ended the series with 103 runs in three matches at an average of 34.33 and a strike rate of 66.45. He was the third-leading wicket-taker for the hosts and fourth overall in the ODI series.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli had a disappointing series. He scored just 58 runs in three ODIs at an average of 19.33 and a strike rate of 84.06. The 35-year-old was dismissed by different spin bowlers in each match. Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Dunith Wellalage trapped Kohli in three games.

Sri Lanka Secure Historic Series Victory Over India

Indian batters struggled throughout the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The hosts made the most of the spin-friendly conditions. The Charith Asalanka-led team successfully defeated the full-strength Indian batting lineup with young players. They found heroes in every match in the recently concluded series.

In the first match, Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka each took three wickets. Jeffrey Vandersay, who replaced the injured Hasaranga, took six wickets in the second game, helping Sri Lanka win by 32 runs. In the final match, Dunith Wellalage took a five-wicket haul as Sri Lanka secured a historic series victory.

On the other hand, Indian bowlers failed to bundle out the opposition team in a single match in the series. The Sri Lankan lower-order batters helped the team reach respectable totals in the three matches. It’s worth mentioning that Charith Asalanka won the toss in all the games, which favored them in the outcome.

Sri Lanka will play a three-match Test series against England, starting August 21 in Manchester. Meanwhile, the Indian team will be next seen in action during a two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home, starting next month.

Also read: "We don't take 10 wickets" - Aakash Chopra accuses Rohit Sharma and Co. of complacency after ODI series loss vs Sri Lanka