Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dine out with Rahul Dravid after India seals ODI series against Sri Lanka

Disproving the notion of being a second-string unit, the Indian team has shown some commendable class and intensity against Sri Lanka on their ongoing limited-overs tour as they sit with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The visitors handed a seven-wicket drubbing to Sri Lanka on Sunday in Colombo and followed that by a stunning jailbreak on Tuesday when they clinched the game by three wickets.

Under the able stewardship of Rahul Dravid, who is serving as the team’s head coach in the absence of Ravi Shastri, the unit has clarified that whether first-choice or not, they have enough potential to seal victories for the country. Notably, no less than 25 members of India are in England for a five-Test series, due to start from August 4 in Nottingham. Despite that, India looks highly likely to clean sweep Sri Lanka with a match to go in the ODI series.

Meanwhile, after the three-wicket victory, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar alongside his better half Nupur Nagar, and coach Dravid dined out in Colombo on Monday. “Beautiful night with amazing company,” read Dhawan’s Instagram caption with a picture from the night.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shikhar Dhawan (@shikhardofficial)

India eyes clean-sweep

The final ODI of the series will be played on July 23 at the same venue, and it will be followed by three T20Is, which will conclude on July 29. After a thrilling victory in the second ODI, India would certainly eye clean-sweeping the hosts.

However, Sri Lanka showed that they have the spirit to fight after being outplayed in the series opener when India dominated the proceedings and accomplished the 263-run chase with 80 balls and seven wickets to spare. In the second fixture, however, the Sri Lankan team fought back and bettered their performance with the bat marginally as they had set a 276-run target for India.

Unlike the first ODI when Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan took the opponent bowlers to the cleaners, the team lost wickets early and found itself in a spot of bother at 193/7, with their hopes pinned on only tail-enders. In one of the most significant lower-order rearguards, Deepak Chahar struck an 82-ball 69 as he added 84 alongside vice-captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who got 28 off 19 himself, to steer India to a three-wicket victory.