India posted a total that was well short of the low run-a-ball benchmark at the Gahunje Village venue against Sri Lanka on Tuesday evening. Plans went awry once Kasun Rajitha, far from a pretender in a first international match for Sri Lanka, put M.S. Dhoni’s team under stress in his very first over.
Dhoni made it a point to give Sri Lanka its due saying that the emerald nation had always been a team that had competed well and that was what precisely happened in the opening match of the series; perhaps the home team was caught unawares by the little knowledge it had on Rajitha, in particular.
“We did not press hard and could have done things slightly differently,” Dhoni said at the post match press conference, following the defeat.
The Indian skipper was not too harsh on his players, but he still conveyed the way the batsmen should have responded to the challenge posed by the Sri Lankan rookies.
“I think a total 140 would have been a good score, but I cannot say if it would have been a par score. There was a lot for the fast bowlers, there was a bit of variable bounce and hence it was slightly difficult to consistently play the big shots.
“The good thing is that this is the type of cricket we have not played for a long time. We lost the game, but still there were positives in it; everybody got a chance to bat,” said Dhoni, obviously referring to someone like Hardik Pandya who did not get a chance to bat in three T20 matches against Australia.
The skipper also felt that there were always dividends when fast bowlers keep hitting the right areas and create problems for the batsmen. “Speed was also a factor and I don’t think they gave width. I think they did bowl well and wickets falling (at regular intervals) put pressure on the batsman coming in.
“ A partnership was necessary on this wicket. Luck also matters when you play a big shot and a catch or two did not come in our favour. We have come from a series where we scored many, many runs and there is a feeling that whatever it maybe, it will be eventually an Indian wicket in India. We don’t have a say on the preparation of the wicket. We have to adjust and play on wickets given to us.”
Pacers praised
Off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake who brought in a 19-match experience into the first game lavished praise on his fast bowlers Kasun Rajitha and Dasun Shanaka.
“Actually, we were surprised. They are the youngsters and they really did a great job in the power play overs. It was a seaming wicket and they took that opportunity. It was like an Australia wicket; it was seaming and bouncing, we had actually expected a turning wicket.”
Without giving a hint he was rubbing it on the Indians, Senanayake said: “India’s is almost a World Cup team, we did not have the seniors in the team and the youngsters took it upon themselves. They were perfect with their line and length and hence it was difficult to play the big shots on that wicket. They bowled a lot of bouncers too. It was brilliant”.
