The ODI series between Sri Lanka and India kicked off with an intense and dramatic encounter, ending in a thrilling tie. The match was marked by dramatic twists and turns, with both teams making critical errors at pivotal moments, which ultimately led to an unforgettable conclusion.

Sri Lanka’s batting challenges

Sri Lanka, batting first on a difficult pitch, managed to post 230/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Key contributions came from Dunith Wellalage, who scored 67, and Pathum Nissanka, who added 56. Despite these valuable innings, Sri Lanka’s total was kept in check by disciplined bowling from Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel, each of whom claimed two wickets. Four other bowlers also took a wicket each, helping to ensure a challenging target.

India’s promising start and subsequent struggles

India began their run chase with aggressive intent, accumulating 71 runs in the powerplay, with Rohit Sharma leading the way with a rapid 51. However, the introduction of Sri Lankan spinners saw the Indian batters falter. Wickets fell in quick succession, allowing Sri Lanka to stage a comeback. Despite several Indian players getting starts, none managed to anchor the innings or secure a decisive score, leaving the outcome hanging in the balance until the final overs.

Also READ: Fans react as the 1st ODI between Sri Lanka and India ends in a dramatic tie in Colombo

Dramatic conclusion and Arshdeep Singh’s shot

The final moments of the match delivered an unexpected twist. With India needing just one run to secure victory and 14 balls remaining, Shivam Dube‘s dismissal left Arshdeep as the final hope. In a high-pressure situation, Arshdeep attempted a risky slog sweep against the line. The shot, intended to finish the game with a flourish, backfired as Arshdeep missed the ball entirely and was adjudged LBW. The dismissal leveled the scores, resulting in a dramatic tie.

Social media frenzy and trolling

Arshdeep’s final attempt at a big shot quickly became a focal point on social media. Fans and commentators expressed their frustration and amusement as Singh’s approach, rather than opting for a simple single, led to his dismissal for a golden duck. The left-arm pacer’s unsuccessful slog sweep was widely criticized for its lack of pragmatism, given that only one run was needed to win the match.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Arshdeep Singh (PBKS blood) did a favour to Ness Wadia by not letting Gautam Gambhir’s (KKR Blood) team win pic.twitter.com/vKZFq66BE4

— Dhillon (@sehajdhillon_) August 2, 2024

Arshdeep Singh in parallel universe 😭#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/yzoRbvFgFD

— Dank jetha (@Dank_jetha) August 2, 2024

Arshdeep Singh 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/38JYuF05XB

— ADITYA 🇮🇳 (@troller_Adi18) August 2, 2024

Arshdeep, PBKS blood kicked in & he went for a slog god damn 🤣🤣🤣

— arfan (@Im__Arfan) August 2, 2024

Me when 20 minutes is left in the exam and I have only 1 MCQ to attempt. (I got it wrong) pic.twitter.com/3VzPnaas5S

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) August 3, 2024

when just a tiny nudge for a single can win you the game but the PBKS genes kick in pic.twitter.com/9j9mbeIIMN

— 🍺 (@anubhav__tweets) August 2, 2024

Arshdeep just sat down for Jai Mata Di. Haha.

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) August 2, 2024

Arre bhai. What was that shot Arshdeep.

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) August 2, 2024

What was he thinking 😆😆 pic.twitter.com/YhpmDmW6jd

— mon (@4sacinom) August 2, 2024

Arshdeep-Asalanka felt like Gabriel-Yasir Shah

— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) August 2, 2024

What was that from Arshdeep?
Absolutely zero game awareness. The field was spread out, all he had to do was tap the ball into the leg side…

— Shaan Waseem (@shaanwaseem2) August 2, 2024

Also READ: Rohit Sharma ‘disappointed’ as Team India fails to score 1 run from 14 balls in 1st ODI against Sri Lanka

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