Nic Pothas, Sri Lanka’s interim coach, did not beat around the bush when he arrived to interact with the journalists after Sri Lanka suffered a heavy defeat in the first ODI against India at Dambulla.
The hosts had entered the ODI series after suffering a humiliating whitewash in the Test series and did little to show that they have learnt their lessons.
After being asked to bat first, the Islanders were cruising at one stage with the scoreboard reading 139 for one in the 25th over before part-timer Kedar Jadhav dismissed Niroshan Dickwella (64) against the run of play.
The dismissal of a well-set Dickwella opened the floodgates, as Sri Lanka lost their nine wickets for a mere 77 runs to get folded up for only 216 inside 44 overs. The score was never going to pose a challenge for the formidable Indian batting line up, as they chased down the total inside 29 overs by losing just one wicket.
“We were 139 for 1. Then we were 77 for nine. To lose nine wickets in 19 overs is in anyone’s language unacceptable. We’ve got to take that on the chin as staff, as players, and that’s the reality of sport,” said Pothas.
“Once again, you’ve got to go to the individual. Our job as coaches is to put ammunition in the ammunition belt. Then it’s up to the player to make the decision based on his strengths, his reading of the conditions, and his reading of the opposition. There’s obviously some that do it better. That’s true on every team around the world. Of course, you’re going to get it wrong, but people nick half volleys and nick cuts,” he added.
Shikhar Dhawan, who had scored two centuries in the Test series, once again looked in sublime form, hitting 20 fours and three sixes to remain unbeaten on 132 off just 90 balls. On the other hand, Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 off 70 balls with the help of a six and ten fours.
Pothas admitted that Upul Tharanga & Co. failed to execute the plans before insisting that the consistent failures are frustrating.
“Yeah, it’s tough. We probably didn’t read the situation well enough. Yes, there were some execution issues as well. What we always try to drive home in the changing room is that ‘if you make the right decision but don’t execute, we’re more than happy with that situation’. Today we were a little bit more on the making the wrong decisions side, unfortunately,” the South African said.
“It swings between hurt and embarrassment. Emotionally, you get angry. You get frustrated. Am I angry with the players? Absolutely not. The players work as hard as anyone can ask of them. They’ve been superb. You can’t fault anyone within that changing room,” he added.