Colombo: Skipper Rohit Sharma played on a different 'track' from his colleagues, who were thoroughly exposed against quality spin bowling, as Sri Lanka managed to eke out a tie against India in a low-scoring but thrilling opening ODI here on Friday.

In a chase of 231, skipper Rohit smashed 58 off 47 balls on a rank turner with variable bounce, taking his team to 71 in 10 overs. However, all the other batters never looked comfortable against an army of Lankan spinners, as skipper Charith Asalanka took wickets off back-to-back deliveries to play his part in the 44th tie in the history of ODI cricket.

When Shivam Dube (25) hit those two sixes and a boundary through extra cover to tie the scores, it seemed like Sri Lanka's woes would continue. But Asalanka took it upon himself to at least earn a psychological win for the home team.

Rohit didn't look rusty during his destructive half-century, but the Indian middle order stuttered badly, showing their ineptitude against slow bowlers.

After the Indian bowling unit collectively put up a good show on a turner, restricting Sri Lanka to 230 for 8, Rohit's 58 gave India a strong start. However, things went into a downward spiral after that, as Sri Lanka's battery of spinners—led by Wanindu Hasaranga (3/58 in 10 overs), Akila Dananjaya (1/40 in 10 overs), Dunith Wellalage (2/39 in 8 overs), and skipper Charith Asalanka (3/30 in 8.5 overs)—not only choked the run flow but also got breakthroughs when necessary.

On a pitch where Rohit made batting look ridiculously easy, KL Rahul (31 off 43 balls) seemed to once again play his natural waiting game, which has always proved detrimental to his team's cause. By the time he threw away his wicket, he couldn't ensure a decisive turnaround.

Virat Kohli (23), Shreyas Iyer (24), and Axar Patel (33) all got starts but couldn't capitalize. However, it was Rohit who looked like he was playing on a different track compared to all other batters across both teams. He started with an 88-meter six over cow corner off the very third ball of India's innings bowled by Asitha Fernando and then welcomed debutant pacer Mohamed Shiraz with a couple of boundaries and a slap over deep mid-wicket for another six.

While Shubman Gill (16) struggled at the other end, Rohit treated the Lankan bowlers with disdain. Once he was adjudged leg-before while trying a slog sweep off Dananjaya, suddenly the pitch, which had looked easy to bat on, began to show its vagaries. The ball started turning more, and the variable bounce created confusion. Kohli received a skidder and was plumb in front, while Washington Sundar (5) got one that Dananjaya fired in with an angle. Iyer didn't look bad in his short innings before an in-cutter from Fernando breached his defense.

Earlier, intelligent fifties from Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage carried the hosts to a fighting score. Nissanka (56 off 75 balls, 9x4) was a picture of concentration, and Wellalage (67 not out off 65 balls, 7x4, 2x6) displayed confidence on a pitch that offered some turn after Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka opted to bat first.

Sri Lanka had a shaky start to their innings when Mohammed Siraj ousted Avishka Fernando, but Nissanka and Kusal Mendis (14) added 39 runs for a steady second wicket as the hosts staged a mini-recovery. Just as in the preceding T20I series, the Islanders showed a propensity to throw their wickets away from that point.

This is not to undermine the excellent effort put in by the Indian bowlers, who elicited several false shots from the Lankan batters. Mendis fell leg-before to Shivam Dube, who made his return to one-day cricket after a five-year hiatus with that scalp. From a relatively comfortable 46 for 2, the Lankan innings soon crashed to 101 for 5 in the 27th over.

Wellalage was impressive after his initial struggles against Kuldeep. The crunchy back-foot punch through the covers for four off Washington, along with a few other ramps and scoops, testified to the youngster's potential. The left-hander, who added another 46 runs with Akila Dhananjaya for the eighth wicket, brought up his maiden ODI fifty in 59 balls, assisting his side in surpassing the 200-run mark that once appeared far away.