Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra questioned the Indian bowlers after Men in Blue suffered a 100-run defeat in the third and final ODI to Sri Lanka. With this, India lost the ODI series 2-0 to Sri Lanka, their first series defeat to the islanders since 1997 in a 50-over format.

Chopra explained how the Indian spinners had the opposition on the mat in the first two ODIs, but the Lankans were able to break away and score totals exceeding 200 runs. He felt there was a lack of urgency in closing out the innings, which harmed the Men in Blue greatly.

Chopra predicted that with the amount of spin available off the pitch, Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel would run through Sri Lankan hitters. However, the Men in Blue failed to bowl out Sri Lanka even once during the series.

"We weren't able to close out the innings with the ball. There seemed a sense of complacency that we would get the wickets anyway and if we don't get the wickets we will chase the runs anyway. The ruthlessness was missing,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Aakash Chopra noticed that the Indians played spin better than the opposition hitters on flatter decks but suffered when the pitch had enough turn to allow the spinners to prevail. He also saw how the distance between the bowling sides narrowed on such twisting tracks.

"I think we out at the opposition and play spin really well on flat wickets. Out bowlers also bowl better than theirs on such pitches. However, when the pitches begin to turn, our batting becomes ordinary and the gap in the quality of bowling is reduced. So this is a problem they need to address,” he added.

This was the last ODI series for India in 2024 and their next 50-over assignment will be in 2025 when they host England for 3 matches in India in February 2025.