Overview – More grip and cornering at Khettarama?
Where do ODIs rank in world cricket’s priority list? The answer lies in India’s schedule: they have just one ODI series left between their current tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in February-March 2025.
It is therefore a strange time for bilateral ODIs, and stranger still for a series involving Sri Lanka, who have not even qualified for the Champions Trophy. It is fitting, then, that Friday produced an absolute classic of the format, a meandering, slow-moving encounter that showed – just as last year’s World Cup did so many times – that the ODI remains a brilliant canvas for cricketing skill. It would be a shame if the future sporting landscape did not reserve any significant place for the format.
For now, there are two more matches to play in this unexpected tour. After three successive collapses in the T20Is – 9 for 30, 7 for 31 and 7 for 22 – Sri Lanka will be able to draw some confidence from the way they fought after losing 101 for 5 in the first ODI on Friday, and will hope to push India further in the next two matches.
The third T20I in Pallekele and the first ODI in Colombo both showed that the spin-friendly conditions are narrowing the quality gap between these teams considerably. If Khettarama continues to provide sufficient grip and spin, then who can say which way this series will swing?
Sri Lanka TLWLW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
India TWLWL
In the spotlight – Avishka Fernando and Washington Sundar
Since the start of 2023, when he returned from a year-long absence due to injury, Avishka Fernando Avishka has yet to reach the heights he promised at the start of his ODI career. He has averaged below 20 over the last 19 months, and while that run has included scores of 88 and 91 against Afghanistan, it has also highlighted a tendency towards early dismissal, with nine of his 13 innings bringing him scores in single figures. Avishka did, however, finish LPL 2024 as the third-highest run-scorer, with 374 runs at an average of 37.40 and a strike rate of 162.60, suggesting that a return to his international best could also be imminent.
Washington Sundar Washington started the first ODI in promising fashion, sending his first ball beyond Charith Asalanka’s outside edge. He suffered mixed returns thereafter, however; he picked up the wicket of half-centurion Pathum Nissanka, but was by far the most expensive of India’s three leading spinners, scoring 46 runs in nine overs and conceding 31 from 34 balls to left-handed batsmen, his favourable match-up. Then he was bowled out for 5 runs after being promoted to No. 4. None of this would be held against him in the normal course of things, as all cricketers go through such days, but Washington knows he is third behind Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in the hierarchy of Indian spin bowlers heading into the Champions Trophy, with Riyan Parag also waiting for a chance to show what he can do in ODIs.
Team News: Will Khaleel or Harshit have a chance?
Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the remainder of the ODI series with a hamstring injury. Jeffrey Vandersay has joined the squad to replace him. Sri Lanka have the option to add to their squad by bringing in Chamika Karunaratne in place of Mohamed Shiraz, although it seems unlikely that they will leave out a young fast bowler after just one game.
Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (week), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka (captain), 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Wanindu Hasaranga/Jeffrey Vandersay, 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Mohamed Shiraz, 11 years old Asitha Fernando
India, meanwhile, could look to give Mohammed Siraj, who featured in all three T20Is as well as the first ODI, a break and give either of Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana a chance in the pace attack.
India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (captain), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (week), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11Arshdeep Singh
Spinners took 13 of the 18 wickets that fell in the first ODI, and that was by no means unusual for Khettarama. Since the start of 2022, spin has accounted for as many wickets here (101) as pace, and while fast bowlers have returned a slightly better overall average here (27.04) than spinners (28.82) during that time, they have also been more expensive, ranging from 5.28 to 4.67 for spinners. Expect similar scenes on Sunday, weather permitting: scattered showers are expected throughout the day.
17:06 GMT: The preview has been updated with confirmation of Wanindu Hasaranga’s injury
