Sri Lanka vs India, 1st ODI: Key player battles
After a thrilling T20I series, Sri Lanka and India are set to clash in the 1st ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Rohit Sharma, who led India to the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup title, is back to spearhead the side in ODIs. However, the Lankan side is reeling with multiple injuries. Here are the key player battles on offer.
Rohit Sharma vs Asitha Fernando
Asitha Fernando is expected to lead Sri Lanka's pace attack in the absence of other marquee pacers, who are out with inuries. Fernando will face Indian skipper Rohit early on in the innings. Although Rohit has transformed into a destructive first-powerplay batter of late, he sporadically throws away his wicket by playing rash strokes. Fernando could exploit this weakness of Rohit.
Virat Kohli vs Maheesh Theekshana
Indian batter Virat Kohli also returns to the Indian side after the high of T20 World Cup. Kohli fancies facing Sri Lanka in ODIs, and his average of 63.26 against the side is a testament to this. However, star SL spinner Maheesh Theekshana could stop Kohli from going all out. In their only ODI meeting, Kohli scored 17(16) against Theekshana without falling to him.
Sadeera Samarawickrama vs Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka would be wary of Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who averages an uncanny 7.68 against them in ODIs. Siraj made headlines with his ferocious spell in the 2023 Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, as he took six wickets. The Indian pacer has dismissed Sri Lanka's Sadeera Samarawickrama twice in as many innings without letting him score.
Kusal Mendis vs Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav has been India's mainstay spinner in white-ball cricket. He was part of India's T20 World Cup-winning side in 2024. Like Siraj, the left-arm wrist-spinner enjoys bowling against Sri Lanka. Kuldeep has dismissed Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis once in their only meeting in ODI cricket. Mendis scored a solitary run off two balls before getting dismissed.
