Indian team absolutely demolished Sri Lanka across all formats on the previous tour. They won 3-0 in Tests, 5-0 in ODIs and then went on to clinch the one-off T20I as well to make it a complete whitewash on the tour.
Virat Kohli and his men were absolutely ruthless on the Islanders and didn’t give even a sniff to the opposition. The batsmen totally dominated but it’s the bowlers who played the vital role in all the games. There was never a single match where the Indian bowlers allowed the Sri Lankan batsmen flourish.
A lot of planning goes these in days while finding the weaknesses of the opposition batsmen. The videos are analyzed to find the loopholes in the techniques. The Indian team would have done the same for the Sri Lankan batsmen.
Well, we know that for sure now courtesy a piece of paper that was found in the dressing room after the first Test in Galle. The paper listed the weak points of all the Lankan batsmen and the strategy to dismiss each of them.
It must have been left unintentionally there as no team would want to reveal the plans against the opposition. One thing’s for sure that the Indian bowlers executed those plans perfectly as their ruthlessness was on display on the entire tour.
.@andrewffernando Not sure this was supposed to be left lying around post-Test Galle Intl 😉 @officialslc @BCCI #slvIND #redbullcampuscricket pic.twitter.com/BDtmTz0Xy8
— Hugo Lewis (@Hugo_Lewis) September 15, 2017
Here’s what the content of the paper was
Dimuth Karunaratne
Pace:- Back of Length 4th Stump Line angling across LBW & NICK OFF Candidate.
Spin:- Scaring Areas- Looks to play down the wicket. On the off side looking to play more on the back foot. Doesn’t seem to play the sweep shot.
Upul Tharanga
Pace:- Plays from within the crease, can bowl fuller length angling across.
Spin:- Scaring areas – looks to play in the front of wkt (From covers to Mid wicket). Likes to come down the track. Doesn’t fancy the sweep.
Kusal Mendis
Pace:- Covers the stumps. Back of length straighter lines, he loves to drive on the rise through covers. Compulsive pullers.
Spin:- Compulsive sweeper/slog sweep (From square to mid wkt). Likes to come down the track.
Angelo Mathews
Pace: Back of length 4th stump line (Plays from within the crease) very strong off his legs. Short ball is a good option.
Spin:- Uncomfortable against RAOS with backward and forward short leg. Release shot coming down the track.
Niroshan Dickwella
Pace: Back of length, angling across. Short ball with a leg gully.
Spin: Plays sweep & reverse sweep.
Asela Gunaratne
Pace: Length ball coming in, LBW candidate.
Spin: Favors off side, plays sweep & reverse sweep. Uncomfortable playing middle & leg line.
Dhananjaya De Silva
Pace:- Hard lengths- 4th stump line, very strong of his legs. Compulsive hooker/puller.
Spin- Loves playing the cut. Consistently steps out to play the lofted shot.
Dilruwan Perera
Pace:- Hard length 4th stump line. Nick off & LBW candidate. Bouncer is a good option.
Spin:- Â Looks to step out, scoring areas are from long to mid wicket. Plays the sweep & slog sweep.
