In a crucial Asia Cup 2023 match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, India found themselves in a challenging position against the defending champions, Sri Lanka. The star of the day was Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage, who wreaked havoc in the Indian batting lineup by dismissing their top five batsmen: Rohit Sharma (53), Shubman Gill (19), Virat Kohli (3), KL Rahul (39), and Hardik Pandya (5). The social media sphere was abuzz with praise for Wellalage, who received ample support from the pitch at R. Premadasa Stadium.
In their second Super 4 stage encounter against Sri Lanka, Indian openers made a promising start. Skipper Rohit Sharma took charge with consecutive boundaries, putting the Sri Lankan bowlers on the defensive. Shubman Gill, although starting slowly, was gaining momentum until he fell victim to Dunith Wellalage’s magical delivery.
Soon after, Virat Kohli departed, offering a catch to Dasun Shanaka off Wellalage’s delivery. India was reeling from two quick wickets, and Wellalage wasn’t finished yet. In his next over, he dismissed skipper Rohit Sharma as well.
KL Rahul displayed resilience against Sri Lanka’s formidable bowling attack, but Dunith Wellalage forced him into an uncomfortable shot, claiming Rahul’s wicket. Hardik Pandya attempted to rescue India from the turmoil, but Wellalage sent him back to the pavilion too.
The internet erupted with reactions to Dunith Wellalage’s remarkable bowling performance. India’s spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, described Wellalage’s delivery to Gill as a “dream ball for any spinner” and emphasized the formidable spin threat posed by Sri Lanka.
As the match progressed, India found themselves at 175/6 in 38 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja (3*) and Axar Patel (2*) at the crease. India desperately needed a substantial partnership to bolster their score and give their bowlers a fighting chance against Sri Lanka’s batting lineup. A loss for India in this match could jeopardize their path to the finals, with their fate potentially hinging on net run rate (NRR) calculations. Sri Lanka’s victory today would propel them closer to the finals, intensifying the stakes in this thrilling Asia Cup encounter. Stay tuned for live updates as the drama unfolds on the cricket field.
