Saba Karim. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The first ODI of the ongoing three-game series between Sri Lanka and India ended in a tie. Chasing a target of 231 runs, the visitors scored 230 runs before they were bundled out, which resulted in onlty the second tie between the two nations in the 50-over format after the one in Adelaide in 2012.
During the first innings of the game, team India gave an over to star batter Shubman Gill to bowl. Gill conceded 14 runs in the over, seemingly shifting the momentum in Sri Lanka’s favour. The decision to let a part-time bowler deliver the over did not sit well with former India cricketer Saba Karim.
The 56-year-old opined that he understood the thinking from skipper Rohit Sharma to let Gill bowl an over, with a similar tactic being used in the third T20I against Sri Lanka, where Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh bowled and shared four wickets amongst them to change the course of the match.
“The thinking was the same as [Sri Lanka captain Charith] Asalanka introducing himself in the attack for Sri Lanka or what India tried in T20Is with Suryakumar Yadav giving the responsibility to Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, and even himself to bowl. But again, this was the first time Gill was bowling in international cricket, and his over turned out to be quite expensive and Sri Lanka, subsequently grabbed the momentum,” Karim told Sony Sports Network.
Maybe India could have gone with Dube: Saba Karim
Furthermore, Karim opined that instead of giving Gill the ball, India could have gone with all-rounder Shivam Dube for a few more overs. Notably, Dube conceded just 19 runs in his four overs and dismissed Kusal Mendis lbw with a peach.
“India needed an extra spin option on this ground, given the conditions. Maybe India could have gone with Dube for a few more overs, and since they did not go that way, Gill was tried, and it did not prove to be the right decision,” Karim said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and India will look to shift their focus to the upcoming game as they take on each other in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, August 4.