Live Score
Cricket Teams
Cricket Players
1st ODI, Preview: India gear up for the bigger picture as youngsters look to make a statement against troubled Sri Lanka
India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI: While both teams have plenty of fresh faces, India will start favourites, despite the fact that India are coming off relatively less game time than their opponents.
91 days. That's how much time remains between now and the start of the T20 World Cup. Between now and then, three T20I matches is all India have to fine-tune their preparations for the ICC global event. For the several youngsters who are part of India's squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, the coming six matches are of utmost significance, for this is where they have a golden opportunity to present a case for the World Cup later this year.
But ahead of the T20Is are three one-dayers, the first of which takes place Sunday. Yes, an ODI after long. India's last ODI was in March, when they beat England at home. Plenty has transpired since then. The IPL was called off mid-way, the final of the World Test Championship took place, and the Indian Test squad is in England for the upcoming Test series. The one in Sri Lanka survived a scare after SL's batting coach Grant Flower and the team's video analyst tested positive for the virus, which pushed the series back by five days. Nonetheless, the delay is over and finally…it's game time.
FOLLOW LIVE BLOG: INDIA VS SRI LANKA 1ST ODI
India and Sri Lanka find themselves at the opposite end of the tunnel. On one hand, there is Team India, who by no means are a second-string side. Sure, led by the experienced Shikhar Dhawan and the respected Rahul Dravid as coach, the team boasts a few new names – mostly stars of the IPL – but the players would all be keen to prove they are more than that. There are six uncapped players in the squad, and by the looks of it, by the time the series is over, rest assured, all would have played at least one match for India.
On the other end is Sri Lanka – once a formidable force in world cricket but now a pale shadow. Having grappled with contract issues and the controversy of former captains making debatable statements, they have Dasun Shanaka leading the team, who is now the sixth player to captain Sri Lanka in less than four years. However, he has the confidence of a 3-0 sweep over Pakistan in 2019, but that was a different Sri Lankan side altogether and India are a different kettle of fish.
While both teams have plenty of fresh faces, India will start favourites, despite the fact that India are coming off relatively less game time than their opponents.
Team News
India: The biggest question leading up to the match is the number of debuts India could dial-in. It should not be ignored that most of the uncapped players are IPL stars, which means they may have to wait for their opportunity once the T20Is come around. Having said that, Sanju Samson, who has played seven T20Is, is likely to get his ODI cap over Ishan Kishan to take over India's wicket-keeping duties.
Dhawan is expected to open with Prithvi Shaw, likely followed by Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, and the Pandya brothers. Three pacers and two spinners seem the probable reading in the bowling department with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar, along with a possible re-union of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Probable XI: 1 Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), 2 Prithvi Shaw, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka: The biggest void Sri Lanka need to fill is that of Kusal Perera. His place might be taken by Avishka Fernando. Their top and middle order is highly inexperienced and would bank on captain Dasun Shanaka to steady them against the formidable Indian bowling attack. There appears adequate depth in bowling in the presence of Isuru Udana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, and Kasun Rajitha
Probable XI: 1 Avishka Fernando, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Minod Bhanuka (Wicketkeeper), 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6 Dasun Shanaka (Captain), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Lakshan Sandakan, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Kasun Rajitha.
Stats and Trivia
- Dhawan needs 23 runs to complete 6000 ODI runs. If Dhawan gets these runs in the 1st ODI which will be his 140th ODI innings, he will be 4th fastest batsman to score 6000 ODI runs after.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar is four strikes away from completing 250 international wickets for India
- India has not lost any ODI in Sri Lanka since 28 July 2012, with an unbeaten streak of eight matches
