Tabraiz Shamsi compares biosecure bubble to 'cage', advocates relaxed restrictions

SL vs IND | Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan debut for India, Bhanuka Rajapaksa for hosts

The first ODI between Sri Lanka and India saw three debutants making their ODI debuts, two from the visiting side and one for the hosts. Suryakumar Yadav, both from Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League made their ODI debuts for India, having already made their T20I debuts in the previous series at home against England. Bahanuka Rajapaksa was called in as a replacement after regular batter Dhanushka Gunatjhilaka was suspended earlier this month. While 23-year-old Ishan became only the second-ever Indian player to debut for India on his birthday, after Gurshran Singh in 1990, he also became only the third player and second wicketkeeper from the state of Jharkhand to play for India. Before him, the legendry Indian captain MS Dhoni and Sourabh Tiwary represented India in ODIs. Suryakumar, at the age of 30 is one of the oldest to debut for India in ODIs and he was given cap number 236. The two of them, Kishan and Surya scored half centuries on their T20I debuts and it would be interesting to see what they do on their ODI debuts. Sanju Samson, who was primed to play this game was forced to sit out having pulled a strain in his ankle. Bhanuka, the Sri Lankan has already represented the island nation in six T20Is previously and is considered an out and out attacking batter.

SL vs IND | 1st ODI: India bring back 'Kul-Cha' after two years

The much-talked-about spin twins of India—Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have made their way back into the Indian ODI side in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The duo last played together two years back in the ICC ODI World Cup 2019 against England. They were smashed all around the park by England batsmen and the Virat Kohli-led team management decided to separate the two and added an all-rounder in the side. However, their separation was also to do with the fitness of Hardik Pandya as his inability to bowl in the last year has hampered India’s team balance, and hence the team management had to play Ravindra Jadeja in the place of one of them. Both of them also did not help themselves by not putting their hands up in the last couple of years. Kuldeep, in particular, has gone way off the radar of the team management and his slide has not stopped in the Indian Premier League either. Earlier in the 14 edition of the IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders did not play him even once on spin-friendly pitches in Chennai. India have arrived in Sri Lanka under the leadership of Shikhar Dhawan and Rahul Dravid and the first match is underway at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

We’ll pick whoever we feel can do well: Shikhar Dhawan ahead of series opener against Sri Lanka

Indian skipper on their tour to Sri Lanka, Shikhar Dhawan, didn’t throw open his cards till the very last dice is rolled as he refused to disclose the playing XI for the first ODI between the hosts and the visitors at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, July 18. "We haven't really discussed who gets how many games," Dhawan said in a pre-match virtual press conference in Colombo. "The first goal is to win the series and we will play the best XI to win. We will pick whoever we feel can do well [on a given day]. it's not like we have to play everyone just because we have brought them here. That is not the thought process,” the skipper added. The main curiosity for tomorrow’s Indian lineup is about the opening slot and the 34-year-old skipper too agreed that there is a lot of competition for the opening spot in the Indian team. In fact, to bat along with Dhawan, Devdutt Padikkal, Prithvi Shaw and Ruturaj Gaikwad, all of whom did exceedingly well in the recently IPL would be vying for one place. "There is competition for the opening slot and it's a very good thing. Whoever plays, the goal is to do well as a team. Along the way, if we also do well, then these things [selection] take care of themselves,” said Dhawan. The Delhi born didn’t shy away from saying that he is open to trying who so ever the team management wants to with respect to their T20 World Cup campaign strategy. "As of now, I haven't had any specific chat with Virat or Ravi bhai (Ravi Shastri, India Head Coach), I'm sure they may have spoken to Rahul bhai (Rahul Dravid, India’s interim coach for Sri Lanka tour), or the selectors and that message will be conveyed to us,” Dhawan said about the demands to play any special player. “Whoever it is, the focus is on the T20 World Cup. If selectors or team management come to a mutual understanding that we need to play someone specifically, this is a great platform to have a look at them," he added. Although Dhawan said that the team has a bunch of spinners and that they are all very fine in terms of skills, but he clearly mentioned that Yuzvendara Xghahal and Kuldeep Yadav would be the team’s first priority. "They both share great chemistry and have won so many matches and series for us," Dhawan said about the spin duo.

Watch: Root’s decision to not run out Lancashire’s Steven Croft in T20 Blast sparks new controversy

Should a batsman going down while running be run out? Especially if he swivels and moans in pain crutching his one leg and a physio is asked to come out and treat him? Your cricketing spirit would say that he must not be run out, but practicality says that he must, especially if the batting team needs 15 off 18 balls and the players batting in the middle are the last recognised batters. Joe Root, the England Test captain and Yorkshire CCC captain in the Vitality T20 Blast, England and Wales’ domestic 20-over competition, chose cricketing spirit over practicality as he refused to run out Lancashire’s Steven Croft when he twisted his back heel and fell down while going for a run in the 18th over. However, when the physio attended the player, then instead of going to the dressing room, as many expected, he rather decided to continue. It was at this moment that the Sky Sports commentators Rob Key and Mark Butcher had different viewpoints and controversy was sparked. According to Butcher, Yorkshire and Root should have run Crodft out and let the umpires decide the best course of action, but Key on the other hand resorted to the spirit of cricket and complimented Root for the path he took. The 36-year-old Croft, who remained there batting on the crease as the ball on which this bizarre incident took place was declared dead, went on to see his team home by four wickets at the end. With this win, Lancashire qualified for the Quarterfinals of the 2021 season of the Blast. Yorkshire, who had already made it to the last eight even before this match began, would go back home once again without a win at the Old Trafford in a Roses clash eight years in a row. Apart from Yorkshire and Lancashire, Nottinghamshire have also qualified from the North Group of the Blast. There is still one place remaining from this group which would be decided after Worcestershire play their match against Leicestershire and Birmingham play its game against Northamptonshire. Booth these games take place on Sunday, July 18th.