SL vs IND: 1st ODI Preview – India’s bench strength out to prove itself

India and Sri Lanka are set to face each other for three ODIs and as many T20Is, with the series commencing with the first ODI on July 18 at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. As per the original schedule of the series, the ODIs would have been coming to a close on July 18, however, Covid-19 cases in the host camp meant the start of the series is delayed.

Sri Lanka enter this series on the back of consecutive whitewashed suffered against England in both ODIs and the T20I series. While they lost T20Is 0-3, in ODIs they suffered a 0-2 loss, with the last game washed out. On the other hand, India last played the 50-over format against the same opposition, England, earlier this year, when they ended up winning the series 2-1.

For the current series, both the teams have some notable absentees in their team. Sri Lanka does not have the services of Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, and Niroshan Dickwella, who are all suspended pending an investigation of a bio-bubble breach in England, while they have lost Kusal Perera and Binura Fernando to injury.

India, on the other hand, is fielding a second-string squad of sorts, given their first-choice players are all in England for the five-match Test series. Despite that, the current team has enough potential and talented players who can give Sri Lanka a fight in their home.

Team News

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s recent performance against England was disappointing, to say the least. Given they are playing at home, the team might want to put up a better show. Sri Lanka will be led by Dasun Shanaka, who has been recently named their limited-overs captain, with Dhananjaya de Silva as his deputy.

Predicted XI: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Minod Bhanuka (wk), Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya/Lakshan Sandakan, Dushmantha Chameera

India

Owing to India’s incredible depth, they will have some selection issues even while drawing a team from a second-string squad. Shikhar Dhawan will lead the team and is set to become the third-oldest player to make an international captaincy debut.

Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson/Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar/Navdeep Saini, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal

Match Info

Match: Sri Lanka vs India, 1st ODI

Dates: July 18, 2021

Time: 03:00 PM IST, 09:30 AM GM

Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo