2nd ODI: Rohit eyes multiple milestones, India aim historic century
Eyes will be on Rohit Sharma as India take on hosts Sri Lanka in the second ODI of the three-match series at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The opening game was a tied affair as a fiery 58 from Rohit went in vain. The Indian skipper would want to make a winning contribution this time around. Here we present the milestones Rohit can accomplish.
Rohit set to go past Dravid
Rohit needs just two runs to displace Rahul Dravid (10,768) as India's fourth-highest run-getter in ODIs. Rohit enters his 264th ODI match with 10,767 runs at an average of 49.16. He owns 31 tons and 56 fifties. Two of his three ODI double-tons have come against SL. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar (18,426), Virat Kohli (13,872), and Sourav Ganguly (11,221) have scored more runs among Indians.
2,000 ODI runs against SL loading for Rohit
As per ESPNcricinfo, Rohit has scored 1,922 ODI runs versus the Lankans. In addition to six tons, he has slammed eight fifties. His batting average is 45.76 against Sri Lanka. The dasher, who is playing his 54th game against the Lankans, can become the fourth Indian and sixth player overall to complete 2,000 ODI runs against SL.
Can Rohit go past Gayle?
Nicknamed 'Hitman', Rohit has 326 sixes in the OD format. Only West Indies's Chris Gayle (331) and Pakistan's Shahid Afridi (351) have hit more sixes in ODIs. The Indian opener can go past Gayle's tally with six maximums in the second game. Among active players, New Zealand's Martin Guptill (187) is closest to Rohit. MS Dhoni (229) trails Rohit among Indians.
Toss result and team changes
Meanwhile, SL skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss in the second ODI and elected to field first. While India have gone with the same XI, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and all-rounder Kamindu Mendis have replaced Wanindu Hasaranga and Mohamed Shiraz in the SL XI. Notably, Hasaranga has been ruled out of the entire series due to a left hamstring injury.
Here are the playing XIs
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay. India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
India eye this milestone
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.
Hopes from Washington Sundar
Notably, India promoted all-rounder Washington Sundar to number four in the opener though he could only manage five runs. He earlier claimed 1/46 in nine overs. It will be interesting to see whether Sundar gets promoted again. Notably, he operates in the top order for his state team Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, India boast a long batting line-up with Axar Patel placed at number eight.
Both teams eye improvement in batting department
While Pathum Nissanka (56) and Dunith Wellalage (67*) scored fifties in the opener, 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.
