Will take ‘hell of an effort’ to match ‘great’ Tendulkar’s record: Kohli

The little maestro was referring to the fact that Dhoni completed 100 stumpings during the 5th ODI between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo.Taking to Twitter, Tendulkar wrote: “Who said lightning doesn’t strike twice?”

Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the CB Series of 2007-08, the 2010 Asia Cup, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

“Jasprit has been our most effective short-format bowler in the last 18 months”, Kohli said.

“We lacked consistency. We didn’t bat, bowl or field well”. We achieved those targets in the Zimbabwe series. “We’ve been playing some good cricket”.

“We would like to win the next game at least rather than leave everything at the hands of West Indies”.

The home side did not cross the line then because Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar came in the way, and since then it has been on the hunt for that elusive victory.

In fact, Sri Lanka’s dot-ball percentage in this series is even higher than those figures – they have not scored off 57% of the balls they have faced. It will be a challenging series against Australia. It really helped us get those crucial wickets in the middle overs, and at the same time, helped us control the run rate as well. Dhoni, with the all the other players of the team was seen driving through the entire R Premadasa stadium after securing victory in the 5th and final ODI.

“We have to improve all three departments, especially our batting”.

Five of Kusal Mendis last eight ODI scores have been either zeros or ones. He is ready to give a few extra runs in exchange of wickets.

At one stage of the game it looked like the hosts would post a total well in excess of 280 when they were cruising at 185-3 in the 39th over. “Unfortunately we collapsed again”, said Tharanga after the 5th ODI.

Bumrah has experienced a remarkable rise over the past two years and it seems only natural progression that he was the go-to man whenever Sri Lanka seemed to be putting on a partnership.

It isn’t the first time Dhoni did this. The team management has been a bit unfair on Ajinkya Rahane, who is the only player in this 15-member squad not to have featured in a single match so far. It’s been a long journey with [Lasith] Malinga and I’ve learnt a lot.