India vs Sri Lanka: Team India have won the three-match T20I series, and now it is time for the coming ODI series between the two teams. Both teams will square off in the first game of the series on Friday, to be held at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
India will be strengthened with the return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and a few other superstars. Sri Lanka also have some ODI specialists back on their side. So it is expected to be an exciting contest between the two teams.
These heavyweights have played many battles in the past and have produced some thrilling encounters. We will also see such player battles between two teams, which will make this contest worth watching. In this article, we will talk about three key player battles in the first India vs Sri Lanka ODI.
Three Key battles to watch out for in the first India vs Sri Lanka ODI
1. Virat Kohli vs Wanindu Hasaranga
Virat Kohli will be back, and he will look to get in his best. His ODI numbers are probably the best, and he has scored four centuries at Premadasa Stadium in the last five innings; he batted here. That means he will be eyeing another big one.
But he will be up against his former RCB teammate, Wanindu Hasaranga. Virat has a weakness against a quality legspinner, and that’s why Hasaranga can exploit in the first India vs Sri Lanka ODI. So this will be an important battle for both teams.
2. Kusal Mendis vs Mohammed Siraj
Kusal Mendis will be the main batter for Sri Lanka because of his form and calmness he brings with him. He is a consistent batter, which we saw in the India vs Sri Lanka T20Is. Mendis role will be to take the game long and let other batters play freely.
But he has to face Mohammed Siraj, who has troubled him a lot in ODIs. Mendis has faced 29 deliveries from Siraj in ODIs and scored only nine runs. But Siraj has dismissed Mendis four times, which is incredible stats, which will be on the minds of both when they face each other.
3. Rohit Sharma vs Chamika Karunaratne
One thing is sure: irrespective of the situation, the Indian captain Rohit Sharma will play in a similar template, as he used to do in the recent past. He is getting success in that, and that will surely put the hosts under pressure in the first India vs Sri Lanka game.
If Rohit gets going, India will be dominant. But among all the current Sri Lankan bowlers, Chamika Karunaratne has better numbers against the Indian captain. He has enjoyed bowling against Rohit. He has bowled 36 balls to Rohit and dismissed him three times in international cricket already.