Rohit Sharma says India ‘need to take a hard look’ at their batting against spin after ODI loss to Sri Lanka

“I don’t think it’s a concern,” Rohit said after India’s first ODI loss to Sri Lanka since 1997. “But it’s something we have to look at carefully, in our plans for each game. We need to look at it, do something different, talk about it and come back with different plans.”

Rohit scored a half-century and was India’s best player in the series. He gave a barrnstorming start to every run, but when the pitch spread, the ball grew and began to change, it became difficult for the batsmen to maintain a consistent tempo. Especially the new ones. The middle class in India could not find a way around this problem.

Was India complacent? “It’s a joke,” replied Rohit. “If you play for India, there is no relaxation as long as I am the captain of the team, it will not be like that. Come here you try to win every match, give your best and get answers, but yes You have to give credit where it is due, Sri Lanka played better cricket than us.

This meant that Shivam Dube had to share the new ball with Mohammed Siraj. Rohit explained that the swing in bowling was largely dictated by conditions, but also to a certain extent in line with the need to give some of the younger players opportunities. Parag, who excelled in the T20I leg of the tour with his assortment of legspin and offspin, was picked by the Indian bowlers for 3 for 54 in the first ODI.

“We looked at the conditions and thought that taking the pace is the right combination,” said Rohit. “Having said that, we have a lot of players waiting for us in the wings. We have to look at the guys who haven’t had a chance. Overall, we haven’t played good cricket in the whole series, that’s why we’re standing here.”

Was there anything good? “A few, like how our bowlers bowled,” Rohit said. “But even if you want to look at the good, I think there are more places to look at than the good. We will go back and discuss what we should do when we get to a situation like this.” .”

India do not play an ODI series until January when they face England leading up to the next global event, the Champions Trophy in 2025. They also have a long break and don’t play international cricket until late September, when the home Test season begins. in the series against Bangladesh.

“Losing a series is not the end of the world,” Rohit said. “These guys have been playing good cricket for the last few years. Yes, we will lose one series here and there, the important thing is how we move on from this and how we can come back.”