Former Indian batter and presenter Wasim Jaffer has lashed out at the Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, for being complacent in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, which ended in a draw.
While the Indian bowlers needed only four wickets on Day 5 of the contest, Sri Lankan batter Sonal Dinusha’s exceptional performance and the incredible support from Keshara Nuwantha and Lahiru Kumara ensured the hosts batted throughout the day.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer noted that complacency may have cost the Indian team victory in the Colombo fixture. He also asserted that the Indian players seemed a bit low on energy after being on the field for 250 overs.
“I felt there might have been complacency as they needed to take just four wickets. Things got harder and harder, and you end up giving more runs while trying different things. Probably that was the case. The defensive field set surprised me. We went to a defensive field set very early,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
“Somewhere I felt India were a little low on energy at the start of the day. They thought that they would get out, rather than having the attitude that we will have to dismiss them. By the time the Indian team woke up, I think they were set, and things were going in their favour,” he added.
After India enforced follow-on, Sri Lanka were down for 218/6. However, a 112-run stand between Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha (46 off 150 balls) helped the hosts to get to an impressive lead.
Dinusha went on to score an unbeaten 133-run knock off 264 balls with eight fours and two sixes, reaching his third century of the series. Eventually, Sri Lanka ended the Test at 429/9 as both captains shook hands.
