'I'm not afraid to take risk' - Rohit Sharma firm on keeping up aggressive batting approach

Sri Lanka clinched a 32-run victory over India in the second ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Despite the loss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma remained determined about his aggressive batting style and opened up about team strategy and individual performance.

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first. India's chase of 241 started promisingly but faltered dramatically, largely due to an exceptional bowling performance by Sri Lanka's Jeffrey Vandersay. The leg-spinner's career-best figures of 6/33 proved instrumental in dismantling India's batting lineup.

Sharma's quick-fire 64 off 44 balls initially put the Men in Blue in a strong position. However, his dismissal to a reverse sweep, caught brilliantly by Pathum Nissanka off Vandersay's bowling, marked the beginning of the visitors' collapse. When questioned about his shot selection in the post-match presentation, the 37-year-old defended his approach.

“The reason I got 64 runs is because of the way I batted. When I bat like that there is bound to be risk taking and I'm not afraid to do that. Whenever you get out, whether you score 100, 50, or zero you feel disappointed if you don't get across the line. But that won't change my intent. We didn't play good cricket, that's why we lost the game,” Rohit said.

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You have to adapt to what's in front of you: Rohit Sharma

The Indian skipper acknowledged the team's shortcomings. Rohit also addressed the team's strategy of maintaining left-right batting combinations.

“If you want to win games, we understand we have to play consistent cricket and we failed to do that today. Disappointing, but these things happen. You have to adapt to what's in front of you. With left-right, we felt it'd be slightly easier to rotate the strike, but that didn't happen. Credit to Jeffrey, who bowled well and picked six wickets. Sri Lanka played really good cricket,” he added.

Sri Lanka's total of 240/9 was built on contributions from Kamindu Mendis (40 off 44), Avishka Fernando (40 off 62), and Dunith Wellalage (39 off 35).

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Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav led India's bowling effort, claiming three and two wickets, respectively. Shubman Gill (35 off 44) and Axar Patel (44 off 44) gave some hope to the side but after their dismissals, no other batter could finish the game off.