Under-fire KL Rahul made amends for his poor form as he anchored India’s run with a four wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second ODI by a stubborn 64 on a tricky Eden Gardens course. Rejected time and time again by the Indian think tank, Kuldeep Yadav again proved his mettle as he formed a fine bowling alliance with pacer Mohammed Siraj to smash Sri Lanka for 215 in 40 overs after they chose to bat. However, the meager chase on Eden’s speedy outfield was no easy feat for the Indian team, who lost the top-four batters by 86 runs in 14.2 overs.
Needing 130 off 214 balls, Rahul was the only designated batsman left as he again proved his worth in the middle overs with an unbeaten 64 off 103 balls that took India home with 40 balls left.
Although there was some seam movement and the ball from spinners had a bit of grip, there was no pressure on the scoreboard with the home side to be honest.
The win also gave India an unassailable 2-0 series lead in Sunday’s Trivandraum ODI.
“I won’t say it was a flat wicket, or it did so much that it was impossible to hit. When Sri Lanka started I thought it was a 280-300 wicket,” said Rahul after the match.
Rahul started with a boundary and quickly slowed down as he ran hard for his singles en route to a 93-ball 50.
The necessity of the hour was to play wisely as Rahul and Hardik Pandya curtailed their natural stroke play in a decisive 75-run partnership coming off 119 balls.
It was also another Pandya (36; 53b) on display as he took his time and supported Rahul perfectly. However, Pandya took off against the run of play, requiring 55 runs from 95 balls.
India had some tense moments in the power play earlier as Rohit Sharma (17) and Shubman Gill (21) went off in four deliveries after an attacking start, while Virat Kohli (4) was the third victim at 63/2 in 9.3 overs .
Rohit took a blurred edge behind the stumps only to be sent away by Karunaratne. In the next round, Shubman Gill, who stunned the packed Eden crowd with his mouth-watering cover drives, got a soft dismissal and Avishka Fernando got a straight catch at short midwicket at Lahiru Kumara.
The pacesetter, substituting for an injured Dilshan Madushanka (dislocated shoulder), was fully charged as he cleared the centurion Kohli from the last game with a throw that came back in.
There was more fear in store when India were reduced to 86/4 in 14.2 overs when Shreyas Iyer was sent off leg before by a ball going down the leg.
However, Rahul, who enjoyed his role as number 5, was never in any great hurry as he anchored the chase to perfection. He needed one good stance and in vice-captain Hardik Pandya (36) he got an able ally as they scored 75 points.
“The good thing about batting at number 5 is you don’t have to rush. You can take a shower, put your feet up and watch the game. But I always think about what the team needs from me. If you can handle the situation reading as you go in helps you and the team. Succeeding at number 5 helped me better understand my game,” said Rahul.
Kuldeep shines through
Treated time and time again as throwaway by the current Indian team management, Kuldeep Yadav again showed his skills with the ball and demanded composure with the bat in his two bounds towards the end of the chase.
The left arm wrist spinner, who was mysteriously left out after a five wicket haul in his comeback test against Bangladesh at Chattogram last month, was given a surprise call-up after leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal pulled out with a “sore right shoulder”. .
Kuldeep (3/51) answered the call and took three wickets in his first five overs, in a spell that caused the Sri Lankan collapse of 102/1 just as it looked like debutants Nuwanidu Fernando (50 from 63 balls) and Kusal Mendis ( 34 from 34 balls) Indian bowlers started to frustrate after Powerplay with a quick counter-attack.
But as Kuldeep raced through the Sri Lankan mid-order, which included the prized scalp of rival skipper Dasun Shanaka (2), the visitors lost five wickets in the space of 43 balls to all but lose the plot after opting to bat. on a flat deck.
But late fireworks from Dunith Wellalage (32) and Wanindu Hasaranga (21) took the team past the 200-run mark before Siraj (5.4-0-30-3) brushed off the tail.
Young Umran Malik also returned with figures of 2/48 from his seven overs.
Young Nuwanindu Fernando, who replaces opener Pathum Nissanka (stiff back) in form, looked solid and made a great half-century on his debut in a 73-run partnership with Kusal Mendis (34).
Indian new ball bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj swung both ways and got some early movement.
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