'The score was gettable': Rohit Sharma lashes out at batters after Sri Lanka tie 1st ODI

In the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma's men stumbled, resulting in a tie with the hosts. After winning the toss and opting to bat, Sri Lanka posted a total of 230/8 in their 50 overs. The target appeared manageable for the formidable Indian side, but Sri Lanka's bowlers proved too challenging, bowling India out for exactly 230 runs.

After India lost back-to-back wickets, KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav notched a partnership to steady the ship but their dismissals again tilted the scales.

Rohit Sharma on Sri Lanka tying the 1st ODI

Post-match, Rohit Sharma reflected on the Indian team's shortcomings during their chase. He emphasized that the target was achievable with better batting performance. Rohit expressed his disappointment, noting the frustration of failing to score the needed 1 run with 14 balls remaining.

“The score was gettable but you have to bat well to get that. We batted well in patches but there was no consistent momentum. We started well but knew the game would start once spin comes on. We lost a few wickets and fell behind,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation.

"We came back through the stand between Axar and Rahul. Disappointed to not get that one run with 14 balls, but I won't read too much," Rohit added. 

"The bite was there at the start and then the ball became softer as the seam wore off. It was not a game where you can play your shots (straightway). You had to apply yourself and dig in. Proud of how we fought but it was important to hold our nerves," the skipper said.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma equals the great Sachin Tendulkar's record in 1st ODI against Sri Lanka

IND vs SL, 1st ODI

Sri Lanka had a shaky start to their innings when Mohammed Siraj ousted Avishka Fernando but Nissanka and Kusal Mendis (14) added 39 runs for a steady second wicket as the hosts staged a mini-recovery.

Just as it happened in the preceding T20I series, the Islanders showed the propensity to throw their wickets away from that point.

This is not to undermine the excellent effort put in by the Indian bowlers, who elicited several false shots from the Lankan batters.

Mendis fell leg-before to Shivam Dube, who made his return to one-day cricket after a hiatus of five years with that scalp.

From a relatively comfortable 46 for two, the Lankan innings soon crash-landed to 101 for five in the 27th over.

Also Read: Indian batters except Rohit Sharma flounder as Sri Lanka earn a shocking tie

Wellalage was quite impressive after his initial struggles against Kuldeep. The crunchy back-foot punch through the covers for four off Washington and a few other ramps and scoops were a testimony to the youngster's potential.

The left-hander, who added another 46 with Akila Dhananjaya for the eighth wicket, brought up his maiden ODI fifty in 59 balls, also assisting his side to go past the 200-run mark that once appeared far away. 

(With PTI inputs)