India registered the biggest ODI win by a margin of 317 runs in the third match against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday (January 15). Virat Kohli made smashed 166* off 110 balls and Shubman Gill played 110-run knock to help India score a big total of 390/5 while batting first.
Mohammed Siraj then dominated the Sri Lankan batters as he picked 4 for 32 in his 10 overs.
Losing Captain, Dasun Shanaka said:
“It’s disappointing. Not a game we wanted. It happens. We need to learn how to manage the start. Bowlers should learn how to take wickets on these decks and the batters should learn to score. [Inured players] No idea, will have a look after this finishes. [Looking forward] Playing positive cricket is the more important thing. If the boys show intent, the bowling would have been different. Congratulations to Indian team for this performance.”
Winning Captain, Rohit Sharma said:
“I thought it was a great series for us. We bowled pretty well, got wickets, breakthroughs when we need. Batters throughout the series piling up those runs was good to watch. [When was the last time a fast bowler in India had four slips and a gully?] Don’t remember that. Was good to see how Siraj was bowling and deserved the slips. The way he is swinging the ball, he is a rare talent. And in the last couple of years, we have seen him go from strength to strength. We tried all sort of things to help him get five but it couldn’t. But the confidence is there and we can see in the way he is running. He is working on a few tricks. Not given too much thought about [NZ]. We’ll get there and see and there will be a change in combination from what we saw today. We want to work like we did in this series to get the result we want.”
Player of the Match & Series, Virat Kohli said:
“[On receiving awards] It is the by-product of the intent I have. Mindset is to help the team, and put the team in strong position. I have played for the right reasons and that has helped. Ever since I came back from the break, I am feeling good and I don’t have desperation to get to a milestone. I want to continue doing that and am content. Today I was happy to be batting out there and in that space I end up playing good cricket. I am in a nice space right now, just be organic. Shami has always been there for us with the new ball. But the way Siraj has come in and done with the new ball has been fantastic. He picks wickets in the powerplay, which was an issue in the past. It is a great sign for us heading into the World Cup.”
