After an exciting T20I series between the two sides, all eyes will be on how India’s ODI outfit does against the Sri Lankans, who were highly competitive in the 20-over format. The visitors displayed grit and came very close to winning the series. The Dasun Shanaka-led side almost finished as winners in the first T20I and then bounced back to win the next match, but had little answer to the brilliance of Suryakumar Yadav in the decider.
It is good to see India start off 2023 on such a positive note with a series win.
The action now moves to ODIs, and being a World Cup year, all eyes will be on what the playing XI for India should be and what will the team combinations be going forward leading up to the marquee tournament at home. India has the benefit of a large talent pool, with plenty of options available to choose from, but it will be important to identify the combination at the earliest and then give the chosen players enough game time so that they are well prepared till the WC comes around later this year.
Rohit Sharma is back after recovering from a thumb injury and the fans would be hoping to see him at this best again. For all his experience and class, it won’t take him too long to get back into rhythm and start start scoring runs all over the park.
Talking about India’s pace attack, am delighted to see ace pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami back in the team. They are both coming back from their respective injuries, and it will take them some time to come back to their best, but I expect them to hit top gear very soon. It is never easy for fast bowlers coming back from injuries to straightaway start bowling well hence we will need to be patient and give them some time to get going. Hence this India vs Sri Lanka ODI series will provide them with a perfect platform to do so.
The Indian pace attack looks formidable overall, with a good mix of youth and experience. I have been particularly impressed with the way Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh have bowled in the last six months. I am keen to see how Arshdeep bowls in this ODI series, and if he can translate his success in the T20 format to the ODIs. He will be a key cog in this bowling attack as a left-are seamer always gives an extra edge.
India’s opening pair has been much discussed, and I think we should go ahead with Rohit and Ishan Kishan at the top of the batting order. I feel, in any format, the left-hand and right-hand combination is very important, which is why I would like to see the team back Ishan given his fearless approach and great form. If he bats with the same fearless attitude, there will be less pressure on the batter who is at the other end. He will also compliment Rohit well. KL Rahul is another contender to open the innings and he has done the job for India on many occasions, but I think Rahul should now play in the middle order where he has done exceedingly well.
One of the huge pluses for India is their strong batting lineup that includes the likes of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya. All of them are in great touch. We have all see what Surya is capable of; and with Shreyas’s consistency at no. 5, the middle order looks solid. Hardik provides the much needed balance to the side; and with Axar coming off a phenomenal T20I series with both bat and ball I expect him to continue in similar fashion in the ODIs too.
India are lucky to have two quality wrist-spin options in Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav and hopefully both of them will get a go at some stage of the tournament based on the pitch on offer.
The home team have their bases covered in all departments and should start as favourites. Sri Lanka could not have asked for a better series to challenge themselves right at the start of the World Cup year. They will take heart from the fact that they ran India close in the T20I series and we can expect them to show the same fight and hunger again in the ODIs.
