Dasun Shanaka and Co. restricted the Men in Blue to 162/5 after asking them to bat first on a chase-friendly ground. However, they got bowled out for 160 to lose the match by two runs.
While reviewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Sri Lanka’s lack of belief cost them the match, saying:
Chopra highlighted that the visitors were in the ascendancy when Shanaka was in the middle and their batters had taken apart Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel, elaborating:
Chahal conceded 26 runs in the two overs he bowled. Axar was also taken for 21 runs in his first two overs.
“Karunaratne was present in the last over when they needed 13 runs” - Aakash Chopra on Sri Lanka failing to close out the win
Chopra pointed out that an accomplished batter in the form of Chamika Karunaratne was in the middle when the last over was given to Axar, observing:
The cricketer-turned-commentator reckons Hardik Pandya didn’t have any option but to give the last over to the left-arm spinner, reasoning:
Chopra feels Sri Lanka lost the game due to their own mistakes, explaining:
Pandya later confirmed that he was afflicted by cramps and hadn’t suffered any injuries. The Indian captain wanted to test out Axar by giving him the last over and the lanky spinner did not let him down.
12 votes
