India vs. Sri Lanka: 5 Things We Learned from Tri-Nation ODI

Sri Lanka trounced India by 161 runs in a rather one-sided affair at Sabina Park on Tuesday. As the cliche goes, Sri Lanka were as good as India were poor. 

Without MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli was left to command the troops, and he struggled. Choosing to field because of the assumption that the pitch was damp, that theory fell flat on its face very early on. Sri Lanka amassed 348-1, and India responded by being bowled out for 187.

The Champions Trophy winners never really looked in the game, and while it was a case of "just going through the motions," there were still a few lessons for both sides.

We pick five, add yours in the comments.

There's No Run Scorer Like a Batsman Scorned

Upul Tharanga got the boot from the Sri Lankan squad after a horrendous run against Australia earlier in the year. He managed just 13 runs in three innings and was subsequently excluded from Sri Lanka's Champions Trophy squad. But now he's back.

He looked out at sea in the first match, but came back with incredible finesse in the second game. It was a fine innings. Tharanga built it up slowly and scored most of his runs through the offside. He looked at ease and calm. 

He scored an unbeaten 174 at the top of the order, combining for a 213-run partnership with Mahela Jayawardene. It was the ninth time Sri Lanka's openers managed to notch up a 200-plus partnership in one-dayers, with Tharanga being involved in seven of those partnerships.

Tharanga now has more hundreds than Marcus Trescothick, Hashim Amla, Viv Richards, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson. Mind boggling.  

Stats Help When Play Gets Dull

With Mahela Jayawardene and Upul Tharanga batting for what seems like an age, those nodding off had to resort to statistics to save the day.

The two put the records to task as they went on their merry way dismantling the Indian attack. The Sri Lankan total of 348 was just one run short of the highest ever at Sabina Park. The 213-run stand is the second highest for Sri Lanka against India. 

Tharanga's now joins Ricky Ponting on the list of being involved in double-century partnerships the most- they've both done it seven times.

It's also the first time in an international 50 over game that a team has finished their innings with just one wicket down.  It has happened in the past, when ODIs were 55  and 60 overs. West Indies did it in 1979 and England in 1982 - both against India

Virat Kohli Has a Lot to Learn

MS Dhoni has been heavily criticised in the past for seemingly having too much on his plate. That statement couldn't be more wrong at the moment, though. He has gone from flapping to fantastic in the last few months.

India lost the first ODI in thrilling fashion, with Dhoni missing the second innings injury through injury. That injury subsequently ruled him out of the series and Virat Kohli had to take over. Although Kohli has long been groomed for the role, his inexperienced was evident.

Peculiar bowling changes and completely misreading the pitch were just a few things Kohli got wrong.  Kohli might one-day be a great captain, but as an infant substitute, he looks pale in comparison to MSD.

India were poor, and Dhoni is just one player out of 11, but his captaincy is a crucial cog in what keeps the Indian dynamo turning. The only positive from the day is Ravi Jadeja, who top scored for the World Champions. He finished unbeaten on 49, but Kohli now has to find a way to inspire his troops. India need to win their next two games in order to stay in the series.

Don't Always Trust the Pitch

So much fuss is made about the pitch in cricket. While the fuss is mostly warranted, things can also go very wrong when it is misread.

India thought the pitch would be damp and that there would be assistance in it for their bowlers. There was none of that in the first innings. India were left chasing the ball to all corners of the park instead.

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews made a joke that he "can't even win a toss" to imply that he simply can't catch a break these days. But that didn't matter - though, if he had won it, he suggested he'd have batted first anyway.

The pitch can be deceptive and captains do get it wrong. but players should be less reliant on the conditions and more reliant on their skills.

There Is Such a Thing as Too Much Cricket

The response to the tri-series has been largely indifferent. There are odd pockets of fans here and there who have been tuning in and paying attention, but it's hardly set the world alight.

Despite the first game being rather thrilling and Upul Tharanga's fine knock on Tuesday, few will be crying into their porridge about missing either.

After the fast and furious kind of approach of the ICC Champions Trophy, it's been hard to replicate that kind of zeal. India look like they are suffering from a bit of Champions Trophy hangover. Cricket fatigue does exist, not just for fans, but for players too.

Of course it's cricketers jobs to play cricket, but unnecessary cricket only inspires collective shrugs all-round.