'I'm not going to defend Virat Kohli here, but..': DK's Blunt Take On Kohli's Struggles vs Spin

Team India faced a challenging ODI series against Sri Lanka, suffering a 0-2 defeat—their first loss in a bilateral ODI series to Sri Lanka since 1997. Throughout the series, Indian batters struggled notably against spin bowling on the tricky Colombo pitches. The team faltered in their run chases in all three matches, with even Virat Kohli, the team’s dependable batsman, finding it difficult to score runs.

Also Read | Ponting reveals big detail about cricket at Olympics, wants to mentor

‘Playing spin here is very hard’: Dinesh Karthik

Team India had a tough ODI series against Sri Lanka, falling 0-2—a defeat that marks their first loss in a bilateral ODI series to Sri Lanka since 1997. Throughout the series, Indian batsmen struggled against spin bowling on the challenging Colombo pitches. The team failed to chase targets in all three matches, with even the reliable Virat Kohli finding it hard to accumulate runs.

“In this series… let's admit. Be it Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma or anyone else. With a slightly semi-new ball, between overs 8-30, it's hard work. Nothing to worry about. Not too many pitches work that way, but it's been a tough pitch to play spinners. I'm not going to defend Virat Kohli here, but playing spin here is very hard,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

Also Read | The best advice I received was from Rohit Sharma': Ex-India Player

Sri Lanka Clinch ODI series against India after 27 years

Sri Lanka crushed India by 110 runs in the third ODI here on Wednesday to clinch a commanding 2-0 win in the three-match series. The hosts had earlier won the second ODI by 32 runs after the first ended in a thrilling tie. Chasing 249, India once again began well but crumbled against Sri Lankan spinners as Dunith Wellalage (5.1-0-27-5) led the attack for the island nation with a fine spell.

India were bowled out for 138 in 26.1 overs with skipper Rohit Sharma (35) and Washington Sundar (30) waging lone battles. Earlier, all-rounder Riyan Parag took 3 for 54 on debut but Sri Lanka still managed a competitive 248 for 7 riding on Avishka Fernando's composed 96 and Kusal Mendis's well-compiled 59.

Bowling his off-breaks, Riyan denied Fernando a well-deserved century. His 102-ball innings had nine fours and two sixes. Fernando added 89 runs for the first wicket with Pathum Nissanka (45) and another 82 for the second wicket with Mendis.

(With inputs from PTI)