In a series-defining performance, young Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage braved the challenges and emerged as a game-changer on the Colombo pitch. He spun a web that trapped India's formidable batting lineup and rightly so, he was adjudged the Man of the Series.

Dunith WellalageHis precise bowling and astute use of the home conditions played an integral role in Sri Lanka's historic ODI series win over India, their first since 1997. Ahead of the series, Sri Lanka failed to crack India's code for 13 straight times as they lost 11 ODI series whereas the remaining two series were squared.

Sri Lanka won the ODI series against India by 3-0 margin under Arjuna Ranatunga's captaincy 27 years ago. However, the likes of Dunith Wellalalge, Jeffrey Vandersay and Charith Asalanka let the ball do all the talking.

Among the spinners, Wellalage was at his top gear as he showcased his ability to mix up his deliveries with subtle variations in pace and spin. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler bowled slower through the air, letting the ball to grip the surface and turn sharply, which caused all sorts of troubles to the Indian batters.

At times, he even quickened his pace, making the ball skid off the deck, that caught Indian batters off guard. Sri Lanka's spin trio's variation in speed kept the Indian batters guessing. As it turned out, top batters including Virat Kohli often found themselves playing down the wrong line.

India's run-machine, Virat Kohli, entered the ODI series against Sri Lanka with high expectations, ready to add to his already illustrious career. With a batting average over 100, Kohli seemed poised to dominate the opposition, but things didn’t go as planned. Despite his best efforts, he, along with other key Indian batters, struggled to crack Sri Lanka's spin code.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma gave the team promising starts in the first two ODIs, scoring quick half-centuries that set up a solid foundation. However, Kohli, expected to anchor the innings, was caught off guard by Sri Lanka's spinners, falling short of the high standards he is known for.

Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage and Jeffrey Vandersay trapped Virat Kohli for an LBW in the first, second and third ODI respectively. In the first ODI, Kohli's innings was cut short when he attempted to flick a length ball from Wanindu Hasaranga, only to be beaten by the ball skidding off the deck, resulting in an LBW dismissal after scoring 24.

A similar fate awaited him in the second ODI, where he misjudged a flipper from Jeffrey Vandersay, leading to another LBW dismissal, this time for just 14 runs. In the must-win encounter, Kohli once again played in the wrong line as he fell prey to Vandersay's delivery.

Kohli's inability to establish himself at the crease had a ripple effect on the team's performance. Despite Rohit's blistering starts, Kohli's early dismissals left India vulnerable. The first match ended in a tie, and the second saw India succumb to a 32-run defeat. In the third and final game, India lost the game by a huge margin of 110 runs.

Vandersay was the leading wicket-taker in the series with 8 wickets in 2 games whereas Dunith Wellalage and Charith Asalanka took 7 and 6 wickets respectively.