Gautam Gambhir lashes out at Indian top order after Dunith Wellalage's exploits in Asia Cup 2023

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir lashed out on the top order of the Indian batting lineup after they failed to survive against the lethal spin brilliance of the young Sri Lankan star Dunith Wellalage. It was for the first time in the history of the game that Team India lost all 10 wickets to spin bowlers.

The 20-year-old Welllalage claimed a five-wicket haul, alongside four wickets scalped by Charith Asalanka and one wicket picked by Maheesh Theekshana. The opening pair of skipper Rohit Sharma and his mate Shubman Gill provided a strong start to India, stitching a partnership of 80 runs for the first wicket. But the arrival of Wellalage in the bowling attack resulted in a collapse for India.

"Whenever the ball grips, we struggle." - Gautam Gambhir on Indian batters' struggle against spinners

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir came up with a hard and fast-lined evaluation of the Indian batters against the Sri Lankan spinners. He also stressed the fact that the spinners have emerged as a potential threat for the batters in modern-day cricket.

“This is becoming a pattern. You remember that match against Australia in Chennai when the ball was gripping a bit and India were chasing some 260-odd runs against spinners like Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar. And we couldn't chase it. Whenever the ball grips, we struggle and we don't even know whether we can take the game deep,” said Gambhir to Star Sports during a rain delay in the Indian innings after the 47^th over.

“This is not a 350-run wicket...it's of 270. Imagine if in 40 overs you are three down for 160 or 170, then when the ball grips, it is very important for the batters to adjust. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were soft dismissals, but the rest were beaten by the front foot. Rohit Sharma was beaten by pace, Gill by...that was a brilliant ball. You expect better from Indian batters,” he added later.

Speaking of India’s campaign in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma’s men have made it to the final of the 16^th edition of the continental championship after the second successive win in the super-4 round of the tournament against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, respectively =.