India and Sri Lanka will clash in a three-match ODI series starting in Colombo on Sunday, 18 July. With the main contingent on Test duty in England, it will be a chance for India to show the strength in their reserves under Shikhar-Dhawan. Some positions in the lower-middle order and the pace unit are still on hold and a good performance in Sri Lanka can elevate the position of some players. The series also provides a challenge for the home team to test some of their young talent and give tough competition to the highly skilled Indian outfit.
India last toured the country in 2017 in a historic sweep (5-0) to Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were India’s stars with the bat in the series. While Kohli scored 330 runs in 5 innings at a strike rate of 111.86 with two centuries, Rohit also scored 302 runs at a strike rate of 97.1, including two centuries. Jasprit Bumrah set a new record for any series in Sri Lanka with 15 wickets at 11.26 at an impressive economy rate of 3.9.
India have dominated Sri Lanka all over the world over the past decade and they have a 16-4 face-off against their neighbors in the last 20 ODIs. Since January 1, 2011, India have defeated the hosts in 9 out of 10 ODIs played against them in Sri Lanka which is a staggering record.
What: India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI
When: July 20, 3 PM IST
Where: Colombo
Telecast: Sony Liv
Live Streaming: Sony Liv
India
India’s second-row XI will go on to win the three-match series against Sri Lanka as the favorites – that’s the talent available across all formats in the Indian pool. Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw are a formidable opening combination, as they displayed for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021. While the left-hander is one of the all-time greats in the format, this series provides a great opportunity for Shaw to cement a place as the reserve ODI opener for India. He was in disastrous form in the 2021 Vijay Hazare Trophy and IPL and will be desperate to prove his skills at the highest level for India.
Ishan Kishan could be India’s first choice keeper for the series and should be placed at number three. He was in indifferent form in IPL 2021 and this series will give him a good chance to roar back into top gear for the country. Suryakumar Yadav is the number 4 watcher – a position that is ready to hold and the right-hander has all the ingredients to enrich and own the slot for India.
Manish Pandey may get the last chance to prove his worth at No.5 while Hardik Pandya will get a chance at No.6. The series will be crucial for the all-rounder and the focus will be on his bowling and his destructive hitting. Bat.
Brother Krunal Pandya can come at number seven while Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Chetan Sakaria and Rahul Chahar should have four bowlers in the XI. It will be interesting to see Kumar and Chahar sharing the white new ball for India as both are big pieces of swing. Kumar has seen a dramatic change in his wicket-taking skills since 2019 and has the best bowling average among all fast bowlers in this time-frame.
Form wise, it would be surprising if India decides to play the wrist-spinning duo of Yuzvendra Chahal or Kuldeep Yadav, at least in the first match of the series.
Probable Playing XI: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Prithvi Shaw, 3. Ishan Kishan, 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Manish Pandey, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Deepak Chahar, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Rahul Chahar, 11. Chetan Sakariya
Russell Arnold named X-factor for India ahead of Sri Lanka tour
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka cricket has been battling controversies and Covid-19 over the past few weeks and the series provides an opportunity to put some fresh faces behind and make a mark for the country against a quality Indian line-up.
Sri Lanka have had a rough time in ODI cricket recently and have lost three of their previous bilateral series including a 2-1 loss to Bangladesh. He was among the worst performers in the 2019 World Cup in England and lost 7 of his 9 matches.
The team has talent but lacks experience and performance under pressure and tough conditions.
Avishka Fernando is a top-order batsman. He is capable of giving quick starts and can face Indian fast bowlers and spinners in the powerplay. In ODI cricket, he averages 669 runs in 20 matches at a strike rate of 96.67.
Pathum Nisanka is a technically correct top-order batsman with 14 centuries in first-class cricket with an average of 64.45 after 65 innings. He hasn’t started his ODI career well but he has the talent and ability to perform on the big stage.
Akila Dhananjaya will be Sri Lanka’s trump card with the ball and has made an impressive comeback of 51 wickets in 34 bowling innings in ODI cricket. Dhananjay could be a potential match-winner on the spinner-friendly track in Colombo, where he returned with his best figures in ODI cricket – 6-29 in 9 overs against South Africa in 2018.
The Sri Lankan captain for the ODI series – Dasun Shanaka – is a dangerous lower-order hitter capable of clearing the ropes. Wanindu Hasaranga has been Sri Lanka’s best all-rounder in the last one year and has a strike rate of 102.16 in ODI cricket.
Dushmantha Chamira could have troubled the Indians with her pace with the new ball – Sri Lanka’s best bowler in England.
Probable Playing XI: 1. Avishka Fernando, 2. Pathum Nisanka, 3. Minod Bhanuka, 4. Bhanuka Rajapakse, 5. Dhananjaya de Silva, 6. Dasun Shanaka, 7. Vanindu Hasaranga, 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Chamika Karunaratne, 10. Dushmantha Chamira , 11. Akila Dhananjay
To see
Prithvi Shaw has been in excellent form in the domestic circuit by scoring big runs at a superb strike rate. For India, this is a big opportunity for him.
mention. Quote:
“It is a new challenge but at the same time it is a great opportunity for all of us to showcase our talents. Everyone is waiting’ – India captain Shikhar Dhawan
‘We all know he has played IPL but still he hasn’t played international cricket, so both teams have an equal chance’ – Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka
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