‘Does make Indian cricket fans a bit nervous…sameness to the bowling’: Gavaskar

As India faced Sri Lanka in the final day of the Colombo Test, all the country needed was to dismiss the remaining four Sri Lankan batsmen and chase any required runs. However, Shubman Gill's team faced a tough challenge as Sonal Dinusha's lower order put up a strong resistance, frustrating the Indian batters. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar recognized that the off-spinner might have been nervous, but also expressed concern over India's inability to dismiss Sri Lanka's tail.

He noted that the debutant off-spinner lacked the necessary variety to trouble the batters, and there was a sameness in the bowling. Gavaskar added that the fast bowlers struggled to get the ball up towards the batters' shoulders, especially on a pitch that got slower as the match progressed. He suggested that Gurnoor Brar's extra pace and height could have been beneficial.

Kuldeep Yadav, who was out due to illness in the first Test, could have troubled the Sri Lankan lower order, and Jasprit Bumrah's yorkers might have been brutal. Gavaskar pointed out that Kuldeep Yadav's absence was unfortunate, as a good wrist spinner can often get the lower-order batters out. Furthermore, a fast bowler with a good yorker is valuable when the opposition batters are looking strong.

Bumrah's absence was particularly missed, as India struggled to dismiss the Sri Lankan tail on the final day of the second Test.