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SL vs IND | 1st ODI Preview: On downward curve, hosts face uphill task against high-spirited India

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Why should the world focus on a six-match series against a Sri Lanka side that have become easy work for their opponents over the last few years? 

Specifically, for India and their fans, why should they shift their focus on a six-match series sandwiched between the big ICC World Test Championship final and a big Test series against England? 

Why should Indian fans worry so much about a series that will not help selectors in finding clarity on a lot of their doubts leading up to the ICC T20 World Cup?

Well, they should shift their focus on the upcoming series between India and Sri Lanka because a lot of the players who will feature in the series will go on and write the future path of Indian cricket. And, they can see no other place than Sri Lanka to make sure India doesn’t go down the route that their Sri Lankan counterpart has followed after the departure of their star players.

India will be without some of their best match-winners such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah but that gives a window of opportunity for the players to step into their shoes and show they are ready to earn promotion whenever there is an opportunity.

So, if not the whole world, the series is critical for the fortunes of these Indian players to establish their credentials in the senior team.

For Sri Lanka, it has been a free-wheeling downward slide after the departure of their big names and the process of transition is becoming too long to be tenable. Their batsmen have failed to put up consistent performances both home and away while the bowlers have not been able to put their hands up with discipline.

There is no dearth of talent though as the side has shown remarkable performances to win a Test series in South Africa which is one of the most daunting tasks in the world of cricket. They were also the lone team that defeated an all-strength Indian side in the group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy. However, these performances have little meaning if not done consistently over a period of time. Most recently the side slipped to their maiden series loss at the hands of Bangladesh.

There have been revolving doors for the leadership as Sri Lanka Cricket has not given a longer rope for individuals to shape the team as per their understanding of the game. The selectors can be blamed for impatience but an ever so degrading level of performances really test their nerves as Sri Lanka have slipped from a formidable side to win the ICC World T20 2014 to a side forced to play the qualifier rounds before advancing into the main round of the World T20 later this year.

The extent of their slide, especially against India, can well be established by the fact that their last win over them in ODIs at home came way back in 2012 when India were captained by MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma was yet to arrive at the international stage as a world-beating batsman.

For this series too, the selectors have gone ahead with Dasun Shanaka as the leader of the pack although the move has to do with Kusal Perera’s injury.

So, when Shikhar Dhawan and Dasun Shanaka will walk out for the toss at the R Premadasa Stadium on 18 July, Sunday, the players in both the dressing rooms will have their objectives and ambitions clear in their heads irrespective of how little or more the world is giving their attention to the series.

Sri Lanka vs India: Match Details

Date – Friday, July 18, 2021

Time – 03:00 PM IST 

Venue – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Broadcast: Sony LIV, Sony Sports Network

Pitch report

The pitches at the ground have been supportive to batsmen with the true nature of bounce and pace. There will be a delayed start and hence the role of dew can’t be downplayed completely.

There could well be some swing on offer under lights but the team bowling second will be wiery of the detrimental effects of dew on spinners. 

India won’t mind batting second as they can bank on combatting Sri Lanka’s new-ball bowlers while allowing their spinners to come in the game in the afternoon phase of the game.

Team News

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka are already without their skipper Kusal Perera and a pacer Baniru Fernando for the series. Apart from the duo, there are no reports of injury from the camp and the hosts are all set to field an all-strength squad to face India.

Captain Shanka along with the vice-captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando and all-rounder Wanindu Hassaranga will take the batting responsibility for the hosts. 

On the other hand, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana and Chamika Karunaratne will form the pace department of the side. Lakshan Sandakan and Akila Dananjaya will take the onus of spin bowling against Indian batting order.

India

India have a full squad available to choose from for the first ODI and the team management led by Rahul Dravid and Shikhar Dhawan will have to make tough choices.

Prithvi Shaw is certain to partner Dhawan at the top of the order, likely to be followed by Suryakumar Yadav at the number three position. 

There will be a toss-up between Sanju Samson, Manish Pandey and Ishan Kishan for the fourth and fifth position in the batting order. However, Pandey and Samson are likely to get the nod ahead of Kishan at the start of the series.

Pandya brothers Hardik and Krunal will feature at the number six and seventh position while the team will have to take a call on the number of spinners they want to field. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will spearhead the bowling attack in a possible three-man pronged pace attack comprising Navdeep Saini and one among Chetan Sakariya and Deepak Chahar.

Strongest XI

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Minod Bhanuka (WK), Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan

India

Shikhar Dhawan (C), Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal

Sri Lanka vs India 1st ODI: Dream XI/ fantasy XI

Sanju Samson (WK), Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Dasun Shanaka, Avishka Fernando, Hardik Pandya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Navdeep Saini

Captain: Shikhar Dhawan

Vice-captain: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

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