The phrase ‘lightning never strikes twice’ seems to be lost on India and Sri Lanka. After a tied T20 encounter, the two teams have now played out another draw, this time in the first ODI. Sri Lanka, despite having a strong chance to win, threw away a comfortable chase, resulting in a tie before losing in the Super Over. India, in a similar fashion, failed to score the required run despite having two wickets and 15 balls left in the first ODI, ultimately ending in a draw.
As the two sides prepare for the second ODI on Sunday at the R. Premadasa International Stadium, the emphasis will be on closing out matches effectively and denying the opposition any opportunities to stage a comeback.
The first ODI saw the pitch favor spinners, making boundaries difficult to score. Despite Sri Lanka’s hopes for better batting surfaces, it remains uncertain if the pitch for the second ODI will differ significantly.
For India, the first ODI presented a missed opportunity to take an early lead in the series. While the bowlers performed admirably, and captain Rohit Sharma displayed his usual aggressive batting style, the Indian batters struggled to rotate the strike against spin, leading to a decline in scoring rate. The team will focus on improving their batting partnerships and maintaining a steady flow of runs.
The first ODI also offered a glimpse into India’s new approach under coach Gautam Gambhir, with the team favoring a heavy contingent of left-handed batters. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube formed the core of the middle order, while K.L. Rahul’s wicketkeeping duties prioritized the presence of a sixth bowling option over Rishabh Pant’s impactful style.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka continues to struggle with a fragile middle order that remains vulnerable against Indian spinners. Dunith Wellalage’s lower-order contributions were crucial in preventing a disastrous collapse in the first ODI. The Sri Lankan spinners made the most of the conditions to salvage a moral victory, but they will be aiming for a tangible win on Sunday.
The second ODI is set to begin at 14:30 IST, with both teams eager to secure a victory and gain a crucial edge in the series. The teams are as follows:
India:
Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Ꮪhubman Gill, Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
