Sri Lanka’s cricket team has made headlines by achieving a historic ODI series victory over India, their first in 27 years. Central to this success was spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who played a crucial role in the third ODI and shared insights on the team’s game plan that helped them dominate the series.
Theekshana’s Impact in the Series
Despite missing the first two ODIs, Theekshana made a significant impact in the third match, returning figures of 2-45. His wickets of Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar were pivotal in Sri Lanka’s comprehensive victory, where they bowled India out for just 138 runs, winning by 110 runs. This performance was part of a broader trend throughout the series, where Sri Lankan spinners claimed an impressive 27 out of 30 Indian wickets.
Reflecting on the series, Theekshana noted, “For me, it’s a confidence booster as a team. We lost the T20 series 3-0. The whole team was disappointed, and we took it as motivation. Very happy to play the last game and win the series after 1997. It’s a huge victory for us, and I am really proud to be part of the XI.”
Capitalizing on Spin-Friendly Conditions
Theekshana highlighted how Sri Lanka’s strategy was tailored to exploit the spin-friendly conditions at the R. Premadasa Stadium. He explained that the Indian batting lineup is accustomed to playing on flatter pitches with small boundaries, which made them vulnerable on the turning tracks of Sri Lanka.
“They usually play on good wickets and small boundaries in India. We knew playing in Premadasa, if there’s a little bit of turn, we can take advantage because we have good spinners,” Theekshana stated. This understanding of the local conditions played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s ability to outplay India, who struggled against spin throughout the series.
Team Effort and Collective Success
Theekshana was quick to credit his teammates for their contributions to the series victory. He praised the collective effort of the bowling unit, stating, “Rohit came into bat and he attacked me, Asitha got a good start, came back and got Shubman, and then Wellalage was brilliant, Vandersay did a great job… It was a team effort. All the players contributed, that’s why we ended up winning 2-0.”
This series win not only marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka but also serves as a confidence booster for the team moving forward. The players’ ability to bounce back from a disappointing T20 series loss demonstrates their resilience and determination.
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