Sri Lanka will take on India in the third ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Wednesday. In the T20I series, Sri Lanka was troubled by their middle order collapses in all three matches. Before the ODI series, Sanath Jayasuriya revealed that most of the players have caught a viral flu.
It seems Indian players escaped that flu but Sri Lanka have transitted their T20I middle order conundrum to the visitors. Indian openers – Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill – added 75 and 97 runs in the first and second ODI but the tourists could not get over the line in the run-chase of 231 and 241 respectively.
India’s middle order has looked toothless in the favorable spin conditions and Jeffrey Vandersay, who replaced injured Wanindu Hasaranga in the second game, was like a question that Rohit Sharma’s team was not prepared for as the leg-spinner bagged six wickets for only 33 runs.
Rohit has returned with attacking knocks of 58 and 64 but none of the other Indian batters have stood tall against the opposition’s spinners.
On the other hand, Sri Lankan spinners have been right on the money and they have continuously troubled the Indian batters in known conditions. However, Sri Lanka will also want to come up with an improved batting show.
Match Prediction: India will begin the contest as favorites against Sri Lanka despite their batting trouble.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad: Charith Asalanka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Mohammed Shiraz, Ehsan Malinga, Asitha Fernando.
India ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
