NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's media have slammed the national cricket team after they were thrashed by Sri Lanka in the deciding Test by an innings and 77 runs to lose the three-Test series 2-1. Though cricket stayed off the front pages of most newspapers, there were banner headlines on the sports pages of most of the leading dailies criticising the Indian team for not putting up a stronger fight.

"Guests in a hurry, leave before lunch," said the Indian Express, referring to India's demise just 67 minutes into the fifth day of the match.

This was only India's second Test-series loss to Sri Lanka in nine attempts. They also lost 1-0 in a three-match series in Sri Lanka in 1985-86.

"Dreams will be dreams, it's now time to grapple with harsh reality. And the truth is, despite the hype, there is not too much depth in the Indian cricket scene," said The Hindu, under the headline: "India slides to disgraceful defeat."

Leading Indian players Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman missed the series through injury and critics slammed their replacements for not taking the opportunity to stake their claim for a regular slot in the team.

The Hindu said: "... it was an away series in the subcontinent and represented a wonderful opportunity for the youngsters to build a strong case for themselves. They came up woefully short."

Legspinner Anil Kumble, who has been out of international cricket for nearly a year with an injured shoulder, wrote in his newspaper column that India had been thrashed on all fronts.

India won the second Test at Kandy after losing the first at Galle, but scored only 234 in their first innings in the decider and then allowed Sri Lanka to pile up 610 for 6.

"Our bowlers never threatened to put pressure on the batsmen ... One glaring aspect that was evident in this Test series was the fact that none of our batsmen scored a hundred," Kumble wrote under the headline: "Opportunities went abegging."

In comparison, Sri Lanka scored seven hundreds including four in the final Test itself.

Offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who grabbed eight wickets in India's first innings, finished with 11 in the match as the visitors' second innings folded at 299.

"Muttiah Muralitharan is undoubtedly the King of Tweak. And if there were any doubts about his claim to the throne, all were dispelled by his magical performance against the Indians," said The Times of India.

Muralitharan grabbed 23 wickets at an average of 19.30 in the three Tests.

India next travel to South Africa for three Tests and a one-day series starting in October.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd