Dunith Wellalage reveals the plan that got him Rohit Sharma's wicket in 1st SL vs IND ODI

Dunith Wellalage produced an impressive all-round show in the 1st ODI against India.

Having stunned India during the Asia Cup 2023, Sri Lanka‘s Dunith Wellalage produced another terrific all-round show against the Men In Blue in the first SL vs IND ODI in Colombo on Friday.

With the bat, he scored 67* off 65 balls to take his side to 230. With the ball, the left-arm spinner dismissed both Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, after their 75-run opening stand. The match ended in a tie and Wellalage deservedly bagged the Man of the Match award.

He revealed the plan he used to force the dismissal of the Indian captain.

I was trying just to bowl wicket-to-wicket: Dunith Wellalage

Rohit went gung-ho in his typically aggressive fashion as he smashed 58 runs off 47 balls, but his innings was cut short by Wellalage. The left-arm spinner bowled a full-length delivery in line of the stumps.

Rohit failed to connect his attempted sweep shot and was struck in front of the stumps. He was so plumb that his batting partner, Virat Kohli, advised him to not take the DRS.

This was a huge wicket for Sri Lanka as it allowed them to storm back into the game and eventually manage to tie it. Before Rohit’s wicket, Wellalage had got rid of Shubman Gill, who tried to slog the spinner but managed a top edge to the wicket-keeper.

Wellalage then revealed the thought process behind bowling to the Indian openers.

He said, “We knew that the wicket was spinning. So Charith Asalanka had told me that I would be bowling in the powerplay. I had good support from the wicket too.

“With Rohit at the time, I was trying just to bowl wicket-to-wicket, because I knew how much assistance there was from the pitch.”

Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka took three wickets each to force a tie.

The second ODI will be played on August 4 at the same venue.

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