It seems like the Indian team that dominated the ICC Champions Trophy took a flight back home from London. The one that is performing in the West Indies in the tri-series seem to be their clones, which are not quite up to the mark, and look like they don't want to be there in the first place.
After going down to the West Indies in their opening match, India were thrashed by Sri Lanka by a massive 161 runs, and with it putting their chances of making the final in serious jeopardy.
Without M.S. Dhoni, injured and ruled out of the tri-series, there just does not seem to be that 'One Direction' needed to take you through smoothly in a 50-over game.
Virat Kohli, donning the captain's hat in Dhoni's absence, faced a baptism of fire from the Sri Lankan batsmen with Upul Tharanga leading the way with a stunning unbeaten 174 (159b, 19x4, 3x6) to basically bat India out of the game at Sabina Park.
Jayawardene was at his imperious and elegant best as well, making 107 (112b, 9x4, 2x6) and putting together 213 runs for the opening wicket with Tharanga, before his dismissal brought in Angelo Mathews (44) who stayed with Tharanga the rest of the way as Sri Lanka posted a huge 348 for one in their 50 overs - the first time a full 50-over innings has ended with the loss of just one wicket.
A massive 124 runs came off the final ten overs, with Tharanga scoring 74 of those as India lost the plot completely thanks to some brilliant batting from Sri Lanka. It could have been a different case, however, had India hung on to their catches, with both Jayawardene, on 25, and Tharanga, on 2 and 91, dropped as the Indian fielding standards also went down dramatically.
In reply, India just about managed to get past Tharanga's individual score, but that is about all they did as the Champions Trophy winners folded up for a mere 187, with Ravindra Jadeja waging a lone battle, remaining unbeaten on 49 (62b, 4x1, 1x6).
The much-vaunted Indian openers failed to give a big start for the second time in a row, with Rohit Sharma, the top scorer in the opening match against the West Indies, the first to go, caught brilliantly at midwicket by Mathews off Nuwan Kulasekara.
Murali Vijay, given an opportunity in the XI following the injury to Dhoni, was sent in at No. 3 and the Test opener did OK, making 30 in 46 deliveries, before seeing his timber disturbed by Lasith Malinga (two for 40).
Just prior to Vijay's wicket, India also lost their two best batsmen - Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli - both caught in the deep. Those three quick wickets pretty much ended any chance of India reaching anywhere within the vicinity of the target, as the Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Herath (three for 37) dissected the Indian batting lineup with consummate ease.
The only exciting part of the innings was when Ishant Sharma fell with the score on 166 for nine, leading to the possibility of the team being all out for a smaller score than Tharanga's.
However, a few boundaries towards the end off the blade of Jadeja ensured at least that wouldn't be the case - small consolation that is though.
"Tough day at the office, we were not up to the mark with the ball," Kohli said during the presentation ceremony. "Sri Lankans batted really well, and we did not.
"To chase down 349, you need a quick start, we were not able to do that and that did not give us momentum.
"Reality check for us, we have to analyse what we did wrong. We have two more games to go. This is going to hurt the guys a little bit."
India next take on the West Indies on Friday in a must-win game, as the tri-series shifts to the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
