Sri Lanka’s Malinda Pushpakumara has a ‘brain fade’ moment

India galloped to a series win when they won the Colombo Test by an innings and 53 runs on Sunday. The Indians were thoroughly professional in their approach, winning the game within 4 days and without having to bat twice in the game. Kohli & Co. will aim to secure a clean sweep and go hard again at the hosts in the final Test at Pallekele.

Sri Lanka show spirit, Pushpakumara plays an ugly shot

After folding for a paltry score of 183 in the first innings, the hosts showed resilience with the bat in the second innings as opener Karunaratne and No. 3 batsman Kusal Mendis recorded centuries in the second innings. Mendis was dismissed just 5 overs prior to the close of play on Day 3 which prompted Sri Lanka to send debutant Malinda Pushpakumara as a night watchman.

Pushpakumara batted sensibly to remain unbeaten at stumps and started the next day with a lot of determination. In the 73rd over, it seems Pushpakumara had a brain fade as he attempted a reverse sweep and was cleaned up by Ravichandran Ashwin. The shot looked very ugly, especially considering the situation they were in. They were fighting hard to save the Test, though in all fairness that was an improbable task but being a sportsman one never loses hope.

In the second innings, Sri Lanka were aggressive in their approach and made their runs at a brisk pace. But being aggressive is one thing and playing a reverse sweep in a Test match following on is another, no wonder Pushpakumara was trolled big time on Twitter.

pic.twitter.com/cKjheyMqmE

— Cricvids (@Cricvids1) August 6, 2017

Pushpakumara hard a forgettable debut as he was thwarted around by the Indian batsmen. In 38.2 overs, the left-arm spinner returned with figures of 2/156. Ravindra Jadeja picked a five-wicket haul to end Sri Lanka vigil as they were all out for 386.

Here are some of the best tweets for Pushpakumara’s bizarre stroke:

A guy who plays a shot like #Pushpakumara did, doesn't deserve to play international cricket in 2017. #SLvIND

— Cham J (@Uppercut07) August 6, 2017

What was Pushpakumara thinking with that reverse sweep attempt?#INDvSL

— AVINASH JAISWAL (@ajcruiser7) August 6, 2017

Pushpakumara just played the most wonderful shot in test cricket to get out. ??

— Amitesh Singh (@amiteshSingh_3) August 6, 2017

No wonder Malinda Pushpakumara was never given a chance to play for SL. The guy doesn't have brains at all. #SLvIND

— Sandeep (@Bottlemani27) August 6, 2017

Pushpakumara played his role pretty well. But in the end he seemed to forget his role & tried to pull off Glenn Maxwell! #SLvIND

— Shantanu Smart (@smartshantanu) August 6, 2017

Pushpakumara being a lower order batsman is not an excuse. That was an exceptionally poor shot. #SLvIND

— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) August 6, 2017

Do you think that @imVkohli while standing close in to Malinda Pushpakumara offered him an IPL contract? #SLvIND @ajarrodkimber

— Ram Narayan (@R4MN4R4Y4N) August 6, 2017

foolish of Pushpakumara to even try that pathetic shot. Looks even more ugly in the replay #SLvIND

— Gagan Thakur (@gagan_gt) August 6, 2017

The #KP in Malinda Pushpakumara surfaced for that teeny-weeny second.#SLvIND

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) August 6, 2017

Pushpakumara's shot is his own useless interpretation of the helicopter shot. The Pushpakavimana

— Nitin Sundar (@knittins) August 6, 2017

Pushpakumara's dismissal should be enough to see him dropped. Showed he has no committment #lka #INDvSL

— Dinouk Colombage (@Dinouk_C) August 6, 2017

Now that I've seen Pushpakumara's dismissal. I have, in fact, seen everything. #INDvSL

— Damith Samarakoon (@theflyslip) August 6, 2017

#INDvSL we just witnessed "brain fade" at the SSC….by Malinda Pushpakumara..

— Rajesh Gopal (@Rajesh108) August 6, 2017