India eye strong fightback with fate of ODI series in balance

It was a rare slip-up from Team India as they crumbled against Sri Lanka despite an excellent start from Rohit Sharma in the second ODI, giving away a 0-1 lead to the hosts ahead of the final game of the series. Jeffrey Vandersay’s phenomenal figures left the Indian batters with a lot to desire for despite a strong performance from the bowlers.

This is for the second time in the series that the Men in Blue have squandered away a good start. They will be hopeful of turning things around as the series still hangs in balance. Rohit Sharma has been the leading figure for India’s charge up front while he has had support from Shubman Gill. The Men in Blue will be hopeful of their engine room coming into play as it is everything to play for at Colombo.

Sri Lanka have ridden high on their top-order with the bat while their bowlers have delivered handsomely enough. They will be hopeful of continuing their momentum while the spinners who have knit an almost undoable net around the visitors will be brimming with confidence to eye what can be a rare series win for them.

Venue Watch:

The pitch in Colombo still continues to be a balanced one which has time and time again had something to offer to both the batters and the bowlers. With the spinners riding high, it goes without saying that there is ample purchase for the turners and this is where both sets of batters will have to keep a keen eye out for.

Head to Head:

Matches played: 169

India: 99

Sri Lanka: 58

Match Details:

Match – Sri Lanka vs India, 3rd ODI

Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Date: 7th August, 2024

Time: 2:30 PM

Squads:

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (Captain), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Dunith Wellalage