Once a full-strength ODI squad was named, a whitewash of Sri Lanka appeared certain. However, what happened was completely unprecedented. India failed to win a single ODI, suffered batting collapses in all three matches, and suffered their first bilateral ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka in 27 years. What went wrong for the team which had a stunning run at the World Cup a year ago? Let's find out. Experiments which were not required: In his first press conference as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, Gautam Gambhir himself admitted that he is taking over a very successful team. However, Gambhir strongly started pursuing his left-hand right-hand batting combination experiment from match one. The former southpaw's idea to have a left-hand right hand batter every time in the middle did not click in the ODIs. Washington Sundar was sent to bat at number four in the first ODI. The idea was dropped in the second ODI, and Shivam Dube came to bat at four in the second ODI. Axar Patel walked in at five ahead of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Sundar batted at 8th in the match. In the third ODI, Rishabh Pant was sent at four, Axar at fifth and Shivam Dube after debutant Riyan Parag, who batted at sixth spot. The unsettled batting order did not actually help anyone. India were bundled out for 230 in first ODI, 208 in second and 138 in the decider. Selection of the players: Resting someone like Ravindra Jadeja in the spin-friendly conditions of Colombo, and not considering Ravi Bishnoi - who was excellent in the T20Is, and in-form batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. In the post-match press conference, captain Rohit Sharma said that an attacking approach was needed at spin-friendly R Premadasa Stadium, and Yashasvi Jaiswal could have been the appropriate pick. Also, someone like Riyan Parag should have played since the second ODI, and an experienced and senior batter like KL Rahul should not have been dropped in the series-decider. Not learning from history: India have lost nine or more wickets to spinners in a single ODI five times, and interestingly all of them have been against Sri Lanka, and at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India have lost nine wickets to spin bowling four times and Sri Lanka in Colombo, and all 10 wickets last year. The visitors were well aware of what to expect from Sri Lanka and Colombo but they lacked preparation. Someone like Virat Kohli had just one practice session ahead of the series after being on a one-month break. The likes of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer had also not been in action since the end of IPL 2024.