India might have benefited from using the sweep shot more effectively during their recent series. Many Indian batters were dismissed while attempting this shot throughout the matches.
According to India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, Sri Lankan batters excelled by utilizing the sweep shot better than their Indian counterparts. They were more successful at targeting the area square of the wicket. For instance, in the third ODI, Sri Lanka scored 173 of their 248 runs (about 70%) square of the wicket, with only 38 runs coming straight down the ground.
“Sri Lankan batters were consistent with their sweeps and seized their opportunities,” Rohit said. “They scored fewer runs down the ground and didn’t use their feet as much as we anticipated. They focused on sweeping and hitting the ball into deep square leg and midwicket areas. We didn’t play enough sweeps, reverse sweeps, or paddle sweeps and relied too much on using our feet. This was a key difference.”
Rohit pointed out that Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando, who had an 82-run partnership, scored many of their runs square of the wicket. Their smart use of the turn and sweeping techniques forced fielders to move frequently. “They were clever in their batting, whereas we weren’t.”
Rohit admitted that India struggled against spin and didn’t dominate the game as needed on turning pitches. Sri Lankan spinners consistently put India under pressure throughout the series.
It’s unusual to scrutinize India’s batting against spin because Indian players are generally experienced with turning tracks. Rohit and others have highlighted this during the series.
For now, the strategy is to let each batter develop their approach for handling turning pitches. Some might prefer to advance down the pitch, while others might choose to stay deeper in their crease. The goal is for each batter to find what works best for them against spin.
“It’s about each player finding their own strategy rather than being told exactly which shots to play,” Rohit said. “These players are very much experienced, so making sudden change isn’t the best idea.”
Rohit Sharma, despite his team’s modest performance, was the top scorer of the series with 157 runs at a strike rate of 141.44. As an opener, he enjoyed favorable batting conditions, but he managed to maintain a strong run rate, which eased the pressure on the batsmen coming in later.
“I knew that scoring during the powerplay would be crucial,” Rohit said. “As the game progressed, the pitch slowed down, and the ball began to turn. With only two fielders outside the ring, we needed to take our chances. I took these chances to pressure the bowlers. My aim was to keep the momentum going, although I was dismissed while trying to make aggressive shots. My approach is simple and straightforward.”