India's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma blamed his team's batting for the seven-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the opening ODI in Dharamsala yesterday (December 10). However, the islanders' coach Nic Pothas had a different view to the skipper.
Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the three-ODI series after convincingly defeating India at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium on Sunday. The visitors chased down a paltry target of 113.
Rohit, who is captaining the side in place of the rested Virat Kohli, said they needed more runs from the batsmen and hence they lost. But Pothas opined toss and no-ball from Jasprit Bumrah were the two major factors in the match.
"I firmly believe that there were two massive moments in the game. The toss was one and the no ball to Upul Tharanga. If you lose another one we are suddenly 15 for three and that is hugely different situation," said Pothas.
"We have looked at two situations where for me they sort of defined the day. I don't think it was rocket science reading that pitch. It had to be said that the toss was massive in the game. Thisara Perera is my Man-of the-Match for calling it right," he added.
Bumrah, who had struggled in the past too with no-balls, had dismissed Tharanga for 11, caught by Dinesh Karthik. However, the bowler had overstepped and the left-hander stayed on to score 49.
In the post-match presentation ceremony, skipper Perera called the 22-yard strip as "unplayable". Suranga Lakmal made the most of the conditions with a career-best 4/13 to rattle the Indian batsmen. He won the Man-of-the-match award.
The second ODI is in Mohali on Wednesday (December 13). The third and final game will be played in Visakhapatnam on Sunday (December 17).
