Responsibility calls: Okay.L. Rahul, seen at a apply session on the eve of the primary India-Sri Lanka ODI in Guwahati, might should don the large gloves as effectively for the sake of group steadiness.
| Picture Credit score: RITU RAJ KONWAR
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With simply 9 months left for the 50-over World Cup, the true countdown begins for India with the three-ODI collection in opposition to Sri Lanka on the Barsapara Cricket Stadium right here on Tuesday.
India will host three international locations — New Zealand and Australia being the others — for a three-match collection in opposition to every at 9 venues within the pre-Indian Premier League part. Whereas workloads might be carefully monitored, one is for certain to witness varied experiments on this part earlier than a extra settled unit fine-tunes itself within the last part.
Stalwarts return
Whilst captaincy adjustments fingers with the change in format, the house group might be impressed by the latest collection victory, backed by some effective performances, over the islanders within the shortest model. Additionally, India has a greater head-to-head document, together with the win within the 2021 collection in Colombo.
The return of two batting aces — captain Rohit Sharma (who injured his hand within the collection in opposition to Bangladesh final month) and Virat Kohli — might be an enormous morale-booster.
On the high, Shubman Gill is prone to pip quickest double centurion, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan due to his consistency. And, given Okay.L. Rahul’s capability to don the large gloves, Suryakumar Yadav might not discover a place regardless of his dazzling T20 kind.
All-rounder vice-captain Hardik Pandya will present the essential steadiness.
Premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s title within the squad triggered anticipation earlier than the Board of Management for Cricket in India pulled him out on Monday as a precautionary measure. Bumrah, who final performed in September, has been recovering from a again damage.
Nonetheless, the return of speedster Mohammad Shami, who had been out with a shoulder problem since November, is encouraging. Mohammmad Siraj, Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh together with Hardik provide selections within the tempo division.
The spin division is numerous with the presence of all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar and wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Beginning afresh
Sri Lanka, led by all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, will sit up for beginning afresh and gathering worthwhile expertise for the upcoming World Cup.
Able to tussle: Sri Lankan gamers at apply in Guwahati on Monday.
| Picture Credit score:
RITU RAJ KONWAR
Other than Shanaka, main run-scorers Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka are its key batters. Pacemen Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara and spinners Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay might be eager to style success in opposition to the Indians.
The dew issue and the opportunity of a high-scoring match in ODI cricket’s return to Barsapara after 2018 will affect the groups’ mixtures.
The groups (from):
India: Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Okay.L. Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (Vice-Capt.), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh.
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (Capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis (Vice-Capt.), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan and Lahiru Kumara.
Match begins at 1.30 p.m.
