After 2nd Test defeat, Dinesh Chandimal visits Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur

On the eve of Sri Lanka’s ongoing tour of India, the visitors were expected to be brushed aside comprehensively by the hosts. However, the Lankans stormed out all guns blazing and played their hearts out in the opening Test at the Eden Gardens. They were able to put the skids under India courtesy some gritty display of cricket.

Nevertheless, they slumped to their heftiest defeat in Test cricket, by an innings and 239 runs. On a decent batting strip, their batsman suffered a batting letdown in the first innings. Thereafter, the Lankan bowling was neutralised by some exquisite cricket by the likes of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Consequently, Sri Lanka stumbled all the way through the Test match.

After the defeat in Nagpur, Dinesh Chandimal and his teammate and opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne visited Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur on Tuesday. The duo offered prayers, performed a pooja and then paid a visit to Bhodvriksh.

In dire need of prayers

In Kolkata, Sri Lanka gave India a run for their money. However, they couldn’t replicate the same form in Nagpur and were unable to come to terms with the playing conditions. To add to their woes, 39-year old left-arm orthodox bowler, Rangana Herath has been ruled out of the next Test match, owing to back problems. Herath complained of stiffness in his back during the second test, which prompted the decision.

The third and final Test begins on the 2nd of December at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi. With India having taken an unassailable lead in the 3-match series, Sri Lanka will be looking to draw level with a win in the capital of India. Nevertheless, after Herath’s omission, it will be interesting to find out how Sri Lanka set their team combination. Meanwhile, India will be looking to pile on the agony for Dinesh Chandimal’s men.