How To India vs Sri Lanka: With the 2023 World Cup preparations entering its final stages, hosts India have a lot of firming up to do and a problem of plenty at hand as they take on gutsy Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series beginning Tuesday (January 10). Excluding the Asia Cup, to be played in 50-overs format this time around, India have 15 scheduled ODIs and hence workload management of the all-formats regulars will be the buzzword when you throw in an IPL, Australia Test series and a (probable) WTC finale in the mix.
India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI – Live Cricket Score, Commentary
- Series: Sri Lanka tour of India, 2023
- Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- Date & Time: Jan 10, 01:30 PM LOCAL
India Squad
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (wk), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik
Sri Lanka Squad
Kusal Mendis (wk), Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Ashen Bandara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay, Sadeera Samarawickrama
While Kohli and Rahul were rested, Rohit’s thumb injury during the ODI leg of last month’s tour of Bangladesh has seen him out of action for the two subsequent Tests and the just-concluded three-match T20I series against the islanders at home. It presented an opportunity for Ishan Kishan, who grabbed it with both hands by notching up a double century to push for a World Cup berth. Even though his left-handedness and wicketkeeping credentials add a lot of weightage to his case – what with India dropping Shikhar Dhawan from their plans and a question mark looming over Rishabh Pant’s comeback post accident – India have confirmed Shubman Gill as their second opener.
By extension this nails down the frontline keeper’s slot for KL Rahul despite his slightly wayward form of late, meaning the only middle-order conundrum for now is to pick one between the in-form duo of Suryakumar Yadav, who just hacked his third T20I century in under seven months, and the returning Shreyas Iyer.
What to expect: A batting-friendly surface has been the norm in Guwahati. Early sunset in winters could bring dew into picture earlier than expected, and make chasing a prefered choice of the captains.
