India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI: India defeated Sri Lanka by 317 runs, the biggest margin in the history of ODI cricket. Mohammed Siraj picked up 4 wickets in a stunning spell after Virat Kohli’s 166 not out and Shubman Gill’s 116 gave India 390 on the board on Sunday, January 15.
In Short
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 317 runs in the 3rd ODI
- Mohammed Siraj bowled his heart out for figures of 4/32
- Virat Kohli (166 not out) and Shubman Gill (116) hit hundreds for India
PosterGuy: Captain Rohit Sharma had said India were hoping to check all boxes in the dead rubber against Sri Lanka and the hosts did exactly that as they scripted a record win over Sri Lanka in the 3rd ODI in Thiruvanthapuram on Sunday, January 15. India posted 390 on the board and bowled out Sri Lanka (73 for 9) in just 22 overs to complete a 3-0 sweep of the ODI series and begin the World Cup year on a stunning note.
India’s 317-run margin of win is the highest in ODI cricket as Mohammed Siraj breathed fire to rattle the Sri Lanka batters on a good batting pitch at the Greenfield International Stadium. Siraj finished with figures of 4/32 and a stunning run-out as Sri Lanka will head home disappointed, surrendering in the final ODI after having put up stiff fights in the T20I series and the first two ODIs on their tour of India in the New Year.
India broke New Zealand’s record from 2008 as the Black Caps sealed a 290-run win against Ireland Aberdeen after posting 403 on the board. India’s previous best was a 257-run win against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup wherein the team posted 413 on the board.
With a 3-0 sweep of a competitive Sri Lankan side, India have laid down an early marker in the World Cup year and bounced back strong from their 2-1 defeat to Bangladesh in December 2022.
It was Virat Kohli’s day in Thiruvanthapuram as the former captain hit his 2nd-highest ODI score — 166 not out in just 110 balls. Kohli hit 8 sixes, the most by him in an ODI innings, and 13 boundaries as he showcased signs of a return to peak form. It was also Kohli’s 3rd ODI hundred in 4 innings as the star batter hit his 2nd hundred of the series.
Kohli also broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI hundreds at home, hitting his 21st hundred in home conditions. The former skipper also set a new world record for the most hundreds against an opposition in ODIs – 10.
It was a knock of supreme class that Kohli flaunted his power-hitting game after getting to the 3-figure mark in 85 balls. Kohli hit 7 sixes after the milestone, which included a helicopter shot that traveled 97 meters. Kohli hit his last 65 runs in just 35 balls as he sent the Sri Lankan bowlers on a leather hunt.
Kohli stitched two hundred-plus partnerships, the first with Shubman Gill who smashed his 2nd ODI hundred. The next came with Shreyas Iyer, who chipped in with 38 from 32 balls.
Gill repaid the faith shown in him by captain Rohit Sharma and the team management as he shone with 116 in just 97 balls. It was Gill’s first ODI hundred as he proved his doubters wrong after having been picked ahead of Ishan Kishan, who hit a double hundred in his last ODI knock, for the opener’s role with Rohit.
Gill was in sublime touch as he hit a fluent hundred, smashing 2 sixes and 14 boundaries.
Gill missed out on an opportunity to hit a daddy hundred as he was out bowled in the 34th over by Kasun Rajitha.
However, it was Kohli who did all the damage in the death overs, using his bottom hand to great effect. Kohli hit some stunning sixes, including a short-arm jab, as he was in an imperious mood after getting to the hundred.
SIRAJ BREATHES FIRE
Sri Lanka were a man down with the bat as Asan Bandara was stretchered off the field due to a nasty collision in the first innings. He rammed into Jeffrey Vandersay, who was also replaced by Dunith Wellalage, who came in as a concussion substitute.
Sri Lanka looked rattled as Mohammed Siraj breathed fire with the new-ball, showcasing that one can get help from the surface which looked flat in the first innings.
Siraj removed Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis with two lovely deliveries that left the right-handers in his first two overs.
In the 7th over, Mohammed Shami sent back Charith Asalanka for 1.
Siraj was given license to bowl 7 overs on the trot by captain Rohit as the pacer picked up two more wickets inside the first 10 overs. Siraj got Nuwanidu Fernando to inside edge one onto his stumps for 19 after which he bowled a beauty to hit the timber of Wanindu Hasaranga, who was peppered with outswingers before one jagged back in.
Kuldeep Yadav, who was brought into the attack as the first-change bowler, got the big wicket of Dasun Shanaka for 11 as he got one to sneak through the Sri Lanka captain’s bat and pad.
Even as India were looking to get the final wicket, Rohit gave the ball back to Siraj, who gave it his all to complete his 5-wicket haul, which would have been the first by an Indian fast bowler in India since 2007.
It was Kuldeep, who picked up the final Sri Lankan wicket, getting Lahiru Kumara out for 9, snapping a 21-run resistance for the final wicket.