'They cant play him' - Fans react as Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage dismantles India's top-order in Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours

After a resounding win over Pakistan in their first Super Fours of the 2023 Asia Cup, Team India are up against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday, September 12. Electing to bat first, the Indian openers gave their team another blistering start with their skipper being aggressive. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill registered their third consecutive half-century partnership in the tournament, but Sri Lanka managed to pull back things at the right time.

While Gill took a cautious approach, Rohit was batting the way he used to, hitting boundaries at regular intervals. Soon after reaching the milestone of 10,000 runs in ODIs with a maximum, Rohit hit four fours in the 10th over off Dasun Shanaka, rushing to register back-to-back half-centuries. However, a partnership of 80 runs was broken by the Sri Lankan youngster Dunith Wellalage by removing Gill with a stunning delivery on his very first ball of the innings.

Wellalage grabs three quick wickets to put Sri Lanka in driver's seat 

The 20-year-old broke the threatening partnership with a jaffa! Flighted delivery from round the wicket, drifts in, and Gill tried to defend it by going forward. But the ball spun past the outside edge and hit the top of the off-stump. The left-arm spinner silenced the Indian crowd in his next over by dismissing last-match centurion Virat Kohli. It was a short-pitched delivery and the ball stuck on the surface, forcing Kohli to go for a flick, but the timeless shot gave the mid-wicket fielder an easy catch.

Wellalage quickly turned the match in Sri Lanka's favour with another strike in his next over - this time the well-set captain Rohit, who was batting on 53 off 48 balls. An arm ball from the youngster but it didn't rise as the batter expected. Rohit stayed back to counter it but the ball scooted through and beat the bat to knock over the leg-stump.

The Colombo-born cricketer reduced India from 80/0 to 91/3. However, his onslaught did not end there. Just when KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan trying to form a big partnership, the spinner sent the former packing in the 30th over. The Men in Blue will at least target 250 to be on the safe side.

Here's how fans reacted to Dunith Wellalage's demolition of India's top order in the Super Fours:

Aaj pata nai kya ho gaya hai🤥 #IndiavsSL

— CHIRAG TALWAR (@Chiragtalwar23) September 12, 2023

bhai kya ho rha h 3 wicket lgatar gir gaiy

— THE DICTATOR (@world_dominate_) September 12, 2023

Bc game change kar diya

— Spider pant (@AnkitDa53859244) September 12, 2023

Rookie bowler got three goats in his pocket 😒

— Manas Hemram (@manashemram4) September 12, 2023

They cant play him

— vishnu mohan v.m (@vimojingan) September 12, 2023

Bhai kya bowler hai ye yaaar 😳😳😳

— Kritik Sharma🏳️‍🌈 (@talks_lucid) September 12, 2023

Wellalage side mein aan vro kuch baat karni hai pic.twitter.com/P9ZiaRyuzU

— 💙 (@Alreadysad__) September 12, 2023

Wellalage turning the match.. Big responsibility to KL Rahul and Ishan kishan once again..

— Satya Prakash (@Satya_Prakash08) September 12, 2023

Yeh Kuldeep yadav Sri Lanka ko kisne dediya 😭

— Abhay 🇮🇳 (@InfinityAbhay) September 12, 2023

Wellalage is killing this Game with his Masterclass Spin ability!

— Renu K 🌺 (@Talk2Rinki) September 12, 2023