Not Only Wellalage, Vandersay; IND's Spin Struggle Vs SL Goes Back To Murali Days

Kohli struggled against spinners in ODI series [PTI] Kohli struggled against spinners in ODI series [PTI]

The India tour of Sri Lanka ended on a sour note for the visitors, as they lost the ODI series 2-0. Against a depleted Sri Lankan team, Rohit Sharma and his men were touted to beat the home side with relative ease.

SL exploit India's weakness

However, that didn't happen as the Lankan spinners wreaked havoc and took 27 out of the possible 30 wickets to inflict a humiliating series loss after 27-years. Throughout the 3-match series, Team India had chinks in their armour, which the Lankan team exploited, but the biggest of them was their 'inability' to tackle the spinners.

Maheesh Theekshana, the SL spinner revealed that the pitches in Colombo were prepared to exploit India's weakness against spin, and that's exactly what transpired in the three-game series. While the Men In Blue were excellent against the pace bowling attack, the same couldn't be said about their game-play against the spinners, as Sri Lanka won the last two matches convincingly.


IND's Struggle against Muralitharan and Mendis

Interestingly, the inability to play Sri Lankan spinners goes back to the early 90s, and 2000s, when a young Muttiah Muralitharan tormented the 'famed' Indian lineup. In 22 Tests, he scalped 105 wickets, at an average of 32.61. The stats get better, in his home, where Murali has picked up 29 wickets in 8 innings, at an average of just 22.7.

Bowler
Matches
Wickets
Average
Strike-Rate
Muralitharan2210532.6166.8

(Murali stats Vs IND in Tests)

Towards the latter half of 2000s, mystery spinner, Ajantha Mendis rose to the ranks and was the chief destroyer in the Asia Cup 2008 finals, by picking up 6 wickets. From 2008-10, he was simply unplayable as the Indian batters, barring Virender Sehwag struggled to read through his hands.

Bowler
Matches
Wickets
Average
Strike-Rate
Mendis9322550

(Mendis stats Vs IND in ODIs)

Recent struggles against newcomers

More recently, it was the guile of Dunith Wellalage which troubled Rohit and his troops. During Asia Cup 2023, Wellalage showcased his class and picked up a 5-wicket haul to dismantle the Indian batting.

Talking about this series, Sri Lanka had plethora of spinners and they came up with a plan to target India's weak zone - ability to play spin. In the first match, it was Wanindu Hasaranga, who changed the course of the match. In the second game, it was Jeffrey Vandersay, who scalped a 6-fer to stop the Indian juggernaut.

Wellalage, who loves playing against India, was the star in the 3rd ODI as India were brought down to their knees by a superior bowling attack.

The Champions Trophy, which is in the ODI format in Pakistan, will take place in February, next year. By now, teams must have noticed India's game-style, and they'll include plethora of spinners when coming up against the Rohit Sharma-led side. This is something to watch out for.