Five Reasons Why India Has Not Won a Test Series in SL Since 1993

Part of the only Indian team that has beaten Sri Lanka at home, Kiran More lists the five reasons for The Quint.

The Indian Cricket team at a practice session in Colombo. (Photo: AP)

A key member of the Indian squads of 1980s and early 1990s, Kiran More has the distinction of being the member of the only side to have won a Test series in Sri Lanka, in 1993.

In a chat with The Quint, More listed five reasons according to him, why India has not won a Test series in Sri Lanka since 1993.

R Ashwin(L) and Ishant Sharma(R) will spearhead the spin and pace bowling departments for India in Sri Lanka. (Photo: AP)

1. Bowling Combination

The bowling department is a crucial element of a Test XI. You need to take 20 wickets to win a Test match.

We had that in 1993 with the presence of five wicket-taking bowlers in Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar, Rajesh Chauhan, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath. Even Sachin could bowl seam-up. This relentless pressure from our bowlers put Sri Lanka under pressure at that time.

The closest thing India have to a surprise factor in their team is an inexperienced Wriddhiman Saha who is having to fill in the big boots of MS Dhoni. (Photo: AP)

2. No X-Factor

In 1993 we had the X-factor of a young Kumble and Tendulkar. That made a huge difference. Both toured later with the Indian sides in 1997, 2008 and 2010 (only Tendulkar), but it was not the same.

There was just Sehwag in 2008 who made some difference between the two sides.

3. Lack of All-Rounders

We have not been blessed with all-rounders like Kapil or even Manoj since the win in 1993. The pair made a huge difference to the balance of the side.

We did not have to manufacture a balance for the XI, because Manoj could even open the batting. We have not had that luxury since then.

4. Murali-Vaas Combo

People often forget that in 1993, we played a Sri Lanka minus Muttiah Muralitharan. He made a few appearances here and there till then.

Similarly, Chaminda Vaas made his debut in the return series few months later in India. The pair of Murali-Vaas ruled Sri Lankan cricket and caused dents in batting line-ups with their incisive bowling for over a decade.

Who will forget Murali’s ball to dismiss Sadagoppan Ramesh in the 2001 series?

Sri Lanka’s highest scorer in test cricket, India will face a Kumar Sangakkara who’s playing his final tests for the country in the upcoming series. (Photo: Reuters)

5. World Class Sri Lankan Batsmen

In 1993, Sri Lanka’s batting revolved majorly around Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga.

When we toured in the later years, Sanath Jayasuriya grew in stature. Even the likes of Roshan Mahanama assumed greater responsibilities.

Do we need to remind ourselves of what happened in the 952 for six innings for Sri Lanka in 1997? Then the likes of Marvan Atapattu rose from nowhere. The last few years have all been about the batting marathons of champions like Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.