‘That shot isn’t going to impress Gambhir’ – Dodda Ganesh questions Arshdeep Singh’s shot selection after Sri Lanka-India first ODI ends in a tie

Dodda Ganesh and Arshdeep Singh(Twitter)

Former India pacer Dodda Ganesh questioned Arshdeep Singh’s shot selection that led to his dismissal in the pulsating first ODI between India and Sri Lanka, which ended in a tie on Friday, August 2, in Colombo.

India were chasing a target of 231 at the R Premadasa Stadium. They were well on course to winning the game, needing just one run from 15 balls with two wickets in hand and a well-set Shivam Dube at the crease. However, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka dismissed Dube, who was out LBW after missing a delivery that came back in with the arm. This brought the game back to life as Arshdeep Singh, India’s No. 11 batter, walked out to the middle.

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The Punjab pacer tried to go for the glory shot off his first ball as he attempted a slog sweep but only connected with thin air. The ball rapped him on his back leg and he was adjudged LBW. Arshdeep reviewed the call but to no avail.

Ganesh felt that Arshdeep should have shown more game awareness in the crunch moment. The former mentioned that India’s new head coach Gautam Gambhir would not be too happy with the 25-year-old’s shot selection.

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“You can’t expect run from the tail enders but a bit of game awareness is paramount for any cricketer. That shot from Arshdeep isn’t going to impress the coach Gambhir,” Ganesh wrote on his official ‘X’ handle.

The 51-year-old went on to extoll the Sri Lankan players for their spirited fightback after India were cruising along at one stage. Ganesh said that the tie will serve as a shot in the arm for the home team.

“And it’s a tie. Great application shown by Sri Lankan bowlers. This is going to be a great moral booster for the underdogs,” Ganesh wrote on X.

The second ODI is set to be played at the same venue on Sunday, August 4. It is going to be interesting to see which team takes the ascendancy in the three-match series.