India eye their 100th ODI win against Sri Lanka: Preview
The ODI series opener between India and Sri Lanka resulted in a dramatic tie as India couldn't accomplish the 231-run target. This effectively makes the series a two-match affair and the winner of the second game, which is on August 4, will take an unassailable 1-0 lead. Both teams would want to put up a better show. Here's the preview for the second match.
Stadium stats and pitch report
Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium is hosting the entire series. The surface in the opener favored the bowlers, especially the slower ones. The batting gets even more difficult once the ball gets old. The average first innings score here in ODIs reads 231. Meanwhile, the match will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network, while SonyLIV will provide the live streaming (2:30pm IST).
A look at head-to-head record
As per ESPNcricinfo, India have firmly dominated Sri Lanka, as far as the ODI head-to-head record is concerned (99-57). The two sides have been involved in two ties. Their last bilateral series saw India thrash SL 3-0 at home last year. Notably, a win in the second game can make India the first nation to complete 100 ODI wins against an opponent.
Batting failures from both teams
While Pathum Nissanka (56) and Dunith Wellalage (67*) scored fifties, four of SL's other top-five batters couldn't even touch the 15-run mark. Meanwhile, India would be gutted as they were once at 75/0 while chasing 231. Rohit Sharma made a fiery 58. Notably, spinners across both camps enjoyed impressive outings. There wasn't much dew to impact the game.
Here are the probable XIs
India (Probable XI): Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj. Sri Lanka (Probable XI): Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz.
Here are the key performers
Virat Kohli has hammered five ODI tons in the island nation as he averages 47.81 here. Two of Rohit Sharma's three double-tons in ODIs have come against SL. He averages 45.76 against the team. Nissanka has hammered three tons and a fifty in the seven ODIs he has played this year. Wanindu Hasaranga has scalped 48 wickets in 21 ODIs since 2023.
