India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd ODI: 5 things we learnt from the match

A Rohit Sharma special - he scored his 3rd double hundred - saw India crush Sri Lanka by 141 runs at Mohali to level the three-match series and set up the decider at Vishakhapatnam. Sri Lanka opted to bowl first after winning the toss, hoping to catch India unawares under overcast skies but they did not account for the lack of underlying moisture.

Dhawan started with a bang while Rohit settled in and once the Delhiite departed, Shreyas Iyer slammed his way to a superb half-century and in the process helped Rohit get into Hitman-mode. The skipper unfurled his wide array of strokes, racing from 100 to 200 in 36 balls and taking India to 392 in the process.

Sri Lanka's body language indicated that they had already lost even before their run chase began. Angelo Mathews was the only one to stand and fight but Sri Lanka were well out of the contest by then. Here are five things we learnt from the match:

#5 Shreyas Iyer joins in the fun

Shreyas Iyer staked his claim for a permanent place in India's ODI team after a terrific half-century in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Mohali. Walking in at No. 3 with a solid foundation already having been set, Iyer settled in with skipper, Rohit Sharma, and looked in fine touch early on.

The first fifty runs came off as many balls, courtesy nudges and nurdles sandwiched between some eye-catching shots. By then he had settled his nerves and a more aggressive approach followed with Rohit sturdy at the other end. 38 came from his next 20 balls, with a couple of smashing sixes. He would rue the fact that he missed out on a century but it was an innings that would sway the selectors' minds his way.

#4 Suranga Lakmal goes from hero to zero in a flash

Lakmal looked completely off-colour at Mohali

Only two days ago, Sri Lanka were bragging about Lakmal the seamer. He had sent down an exemplary spell of fast bowling at Dharamsala, returning figures of 4/13 in 10 overs and dismantling India's batting line-up. But on another reasonably good surface at Mohali, Lakmal went from hero to zero in no time.

Rohit Sharma, who was all at sea against the seamer at Dharamsala, thumped him for four sixes in an over. Lakmal appeared off-colour and, in the absence of swing, lacked the cutting edge to catch batsmen off-guard. His eight overs went for 71 wicketless runs.

#3 Rohit Sharma and another double-hundred in ODIs

Rohit Sharma lambasted the Lankan bowlers en route his 3rd double ton in ODIs

The Hitman is back and how! After struggling to put bat on ball at Dharamsala, Rohit silenced his critics, with 12 stupendous sixes the highlight of his third double-century in ODIs. This is his second double ton against the Lankans and the visitors looked clueless as the assault reached unprecedented levels in the final stages of the game.

He appeared well and truly in his zone, thumping the bowlers to all parts of the ground with some outrageous shots. He became the second captain to hit a double-hundred in ODIs and also has the most scores of 180+.

Rohit Sharma 208 (153) at 8.15 RPO- First 100 runs in 115 balls at 5.21 RPO- Next 108 runs in 38 balls at 17.05 RPO. Talk about shifting gears.

— Clive (@vanillawallah) December 13, 2017

#2 Sri Lanka's top order comes apart...again

Tharanga has been a huge disappointment of late

Sri Lanka were once again in a spot of bother owing to their lack of stability at the top of the order. Upul Tharanga and Danushka Gunathilaka departed early, both to seemingly innocuous deliveries, and the middle-order was exposed quite early.

They needed their no.3 experienced batter, Lahiru Thirimanne, to hold one end up but a horrendous shot from him meant that Sri Lanka had to go back to Angelo Mathews to resurrect their innings.

The top order has been at fault far too often for Sri Lanka. The opening stands have been woeful and the No.3 also hasn't contributed much in the recent past.

#1 Angelo Mathews wages lone battle

Mathews was the only Sri Lankan to offer some resistance

Before this series, Mathews had been severely criticised for his performances in the last two years. He had barely contributed with the bat in the middle-order and his inability to bowl did not help matters. But two games into the series and Mathews has resumed bowling, sending down tight opening spells whilst also batting with conviction.

On Wednesday, he was the lone Sri Lankan to stand up and fight. While his teammates threw their wickets away, Mathews stood firm at one end. He had Gunaratne for support for a while, but Chahal's guile ended his stay at the crease and Mathews was stuck with the tail although he did go on to make a century.