India's assistant coach admits need to address batting collapses

India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar acknowledged the pressing need to reassess and pinpoint the causes behind India's faltering batting displays in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Reflecting on two consecutive matches where India stumbled after promising starts, Nayar expressed concern over the team's inability to sustain momentum.

In the first ODI, India, comfortably positioned at 80 for 1, faltered to 132 for 5 during their chase of Sri Lanka's 230 for 8, ultimately managing only a tie. The second ODI followed a similar pattern, as India slumped from 116 for 1 to 133 for 5, falling short by 32 runs in pursuit of Sri Lanka's 240 for 9.

"We want to go back and understand, and rectify, why it happened twice in a row. The day before yesterday, we were able to stitch partnerships. But today we lost quite a few wickets in a bundle," Nayar said.

Nayar described the defeat as unexpected, particularly noting the challenge posed by Sri Lanka's spinners on a turning track. Stand-in spinner Jeffrey Vandersay wreaked havoc, claiming the first six Indian wickets. Nayar conceded that such dramatic turnarounds are common in spin-friendly conditions.

"Was it a shock? I would say yes, there is a surprise. But you anticipate and understand that in these conditions the game can turn on its head because there is so much spin on offer.

"Even if you look at the last game, it was relatively easy to score against the new ball. As the ball got older, the conditions when batting second got slightly tougher. Sometimes in tough conditions, especially in the 50-over format, this happens," he added.

Commenting on Vandersay's impactful performance, Nayar credited the bowler for his precise line and length in conducive conditions.

"They bowled well - I think Vandersay bowled the ideal length in these conditions. In such conditions, when the ball is turning - and the way Vandersay bowled today, used his finger, and bowled stump to stump - you get these phases when there is assistance from the pitch. I feel today we should give more credit to Sri Lanka."

"The last two T20 games assisted spin. When we came here and practised as well, we kind of understood that there will be turn on offer, there will be help and assistance (for the spinners). It wasn't a surprise and we had prepared for it," Nayar opined.

He explained the strategic decision to maintain a left-right batting combination during the middle overs, despite it not yielding the desired results in this instance.

"We lost wickets in the middle phase, which means every middle order batter batted where he was supposed to. It was not as if the middle order batted towards the end. When you look at numbers, sometimes in your head it can play games, if you look at it as No 4 or No 5 or No 6... but if you look at the situation of the game, because we lost wickets, everyone batted in the middle-order."

"So I don't really feel changes... It is perceived as a change but it's more a left and right combination, keeping in mind the conditions, keeping in mind that they had an off spinner and a leg spinner. So the thought process was right. But sometimes when you don't get the result, you kind of question it. But the thinktank and the thought process has been about having the left-right combination so that we can capitalise on the conditions," Nayar said.