After winning the T20I series 3-0, Team India are facing a tough time in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka in Colombo. They failed to win the first two games despite being in a strong position.
While the series opener ended in a tie as India couldn’t chase the target of 231, the visitors suffered a comprehensive 32-run defeat in the second match while chasing 241.
As a result, the Rohit Sharma-led side finds itself in a tough spot. The tourists have to win the third and final ODI in Colombo on Wednesday (August 7) to level the series 1-1.
On the eve of the third ODI, India all-rounder Washington Sundar said that the must-win game will provide them a big opportunity to counter spin threat in challenging conditions and hold the team in good stead ahead of next year's Champions Trophy.
"Obviously with the big tournaments coming up, we will be in similar situations and it will be important to find ways as to what we can do to win those critical situations especially in similar conditions against quality spin attack.
"I think whatever we have done in this series so far, we will take that as a learning, obviously try and move ahead and win the game tomorrow in all aspects of the game," Sundar said in the pre-match presser, as quoted by PTI.
Sundar also defended the star-studded Indian batting line-up, which has struggled to combat the Sri Lankan spinners on turning tracks.
"We are quality players of spin. We've always played in these kinds of wickets, even at home, in Test matches, and in different formats. Even domestic cricket, we play a lot of games in such wickets," he said.
"And we know a lot of our players have done really well, especially in the middle order, batting against spin. So it's just a matter of finding a way, their own individual self and trying to get the job done.
"Everyone knows it's quite a challenging wicket. Obviously, the Indian team has always put its hands up, especially when the challenge arises. And that's when we've been very good, both with bat and ball, and we've come out flying colours out of the challenging situations," he said.
"And that's the definition of Indian cricket team over the last many years. So I think it's the same, it's been the same scenario in this series as well. It's just about finding a way individually and getting the job done."
Sundar revealed that the team has tried to make tactical changes after getting valuable inputs from new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was brilliant player of the spin in his playing days.
"There has been a lot of input from him (Gambhir). He is a high-quality player of spin. We have always seen him putting up great performance, especially in such wickets against quality spin.
"That is one of the reasons we came out here today to practice and try and find a way and try and do those small little changes tactically and be prepared and ready for tomorrow's game and be really on top of our game in all aspects," Sundar said.
Washington Sundar, who helped India win the third T20I against Sri Lanka in the Super Over last week, wants to make the most of the opportunities that comes his way.
"It's important for me to do well with the bat and contribute to team success and mainly win games, especially with the bat whenever I get an opportunity.
"I feel like I had two good opportunities in this series already and yes, really looking forward to get the job done for the team, especially with the bat, especially when we're chasing and the chips are down," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
