In the world of Cricket, Sri Lanka finds themselves in a rather dire situation. After a crushing defeat in the final T20I against India, which handed their opponents a 3-0 series sweep, they are now faced with the challenge of the ODI leg without the services of five of their fast bowlers due to injuries or illness. It’s a tough blow for the team, but they are hoping that uncapped players Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga can step up to the plate and support the only other fit seamer, Asitha Fernando, along with all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne.
Sri Lanka’s recent performances in ODIs have been less than stellar, with their last two encounters against India resulting in low scores of just 105 runs collectively. In fact, in their last four ODI meetings, Sri Lanka has failed to reach triple digits on three occasions. However, despite their struggles, they are looking to build a strong foundation for the future, with their sights set on the World Cup in 2027.
On the other hand, India is gearing up for the ODI series with the return of key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. With their eyes set on the Champions Trophy, the team is looking to iron out any kinks and settle into a winning team combination. They will be looking for a stronger challenge in the upcoming matches than what they faced in the T20Is.
In terms of form, Sri Lanka has had some success against teams like Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe this year, but they are looking to break their losing streak against India, which currently stands at six ODIs. India, on the other hand, has had a mixed bag of results in their last five ODIs, but they are confident in their team’s abilities moving forward.
As the two teams prepare to face off, all eyes will be on players like Pathum Nissanka and Kuldeep Yadav. While Sri Lanka may opt for a spin-heavy attack given the conditions, India will be looking to experiment with their lower-order batting options. With stats and trivia showing India’s dominance over Sri Lanka in recent years, the stage is set for an intriguing battle between these two cricketing giants.