Bowling coach Bahutule

India's bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule emphasized the team's strategy to give top-order batters bowling opportunities as a 'surprise element' for opponents. In the first ODI against Sri Lanka, which ended in a tie, Shubman Gill bowled one over, conceding 14 runs, but Bahutule believes this approach will benefit the team moving forward. He cited the successful bowling performances of Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh in previous T20Is as evidence of this strategy. Bahutule noted that if a few batters from the top-order can bowl effectively, it will enhance the team's versatility depending on pitch conditions. He expressed that the match could have been won with better partnerships, acknowledging the excitement of a tied ODI. Bahutule also praised the Sri Lankan spinners for exploiting the pitch conditions well.