We preview the first One Day International between Sri Lanka and India set to get underway on Sunday 20 August.
Trounced across a thoroughly one-sided three-Test series, which brought two defeats in four days and one inside three, the hosts will seek redemption in a more manageable format.
The visitors, meanwhile, have a substantially superior ranking – and some rather bold selection choices – to justify in a country they haven’t won a bilateral ODI series since 2012.
Sri Lanka v India | Sunday, 20 August | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium | 11:00
To Win Match
Sri Lanka 26/10 | Tie 35/1 | India 26/100
Sri Lanka
Smarting from a recent Test series whitewash, Sri Lanka haven’t quite conducted wholesale changes, but have acted quickly to counter lack of form and a couple of injury concerns. Without Nuwan Pradeep (hamstring) and Asela Gunaratne (thumb), they’ve also sidelined seamers Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara and Lahiru Kumara – and will rest plenty of onus on the experienced Thisara Perera.
All-rounder Perera has not featured in the ODI unit since June’s Champions Trophy, but a stint for Gloucestershire in the Natwest T20 Blast has kept him fresh. The series, too, will be batsman Upul Tharanga’s first as full-time ODI captain. Predecessor Angelo Mathews remains, but merely part of the batting and bowling rank and file.
Tharanga, much like Australia’s Steven Smith has done, needs to ensure the additional responsibility doesn’t detract from his primary role with the bat. Sri Lanka veterans Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were, arguably, limited by the captaincy – and the left-handed Tharanga must not follow suit.
The Sri Lankans have not won an ODI at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in their last five attempts – and have not triumphed over India at the venue since 2010. That track record doesn’t bode well, but they will take confidence from this year’s Champions Trophy victory over Virat Kohli and company despite a superb century from Shikhar Dhawan.
India
The Indians have omitted Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav from this five-match affair. Instead, Manish Pandey, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel and KL Rahul have been selected. The squad, indeed, has a bold new look to it – and points toward the team’s future.
Yuvraj’s absence, in particular, has been heavily questioned. With Kohli’s availability for this series and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s commitment also under the microscope, India have enough to prove in Dambulla and beyond. Coach Ravi Shastri has been blatant about his bid to see this team fully functional, not semi-operational – with a full view of the next World Cup in mind.
Rohit Sharma’s elevation the vice-captaincy is intriguing and quietly suggests Kohli’s limited-overs appearances will soon be punctuated by rest periods. Kohli has stated that the players are maturing quicker in India’s new, flourishing culture – and this series might present the opportunity to experiment with the stand-in leadership a bit.
Rahul has the chance to build on the sound stretch of form he has fashioned in the Test arena, while the inventive Chahal will be afforded conditions entirely conducive to his wrist-spinning art. Pandey, well, needs a good dig to re-establish himself. How India choose to combine the recalled names – perhaps all in one go for the series opener – will make for interesting selection.
Verdict: India 26/100
India and Sri Lanka have met for exactly 150 ODIs, with the former victorious on 83 occasions. A visiting outfit five spots higher in the ODI rankings than their hosts will almost certainly make it 84 on Sunday.
