Toss Sri Lanka chose to bat vs India
In the first ODI at the Khettarama versus India, Charith Asalanka, captain of Sri Lanka’s ODI team, won the toss and chose to bat first.
After suffering severe injuries and illnesses—five of Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers are out of the game—the hosts gave seamer Mohamed Shiraz his first international appearance. In his latest List A match, the 29-year-old achieved career-best stats with six for twenty-one.
Regarding India, they selected Shivam Dube over Riyan Parag and welcomed back both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. After his potentially fatal vehicle accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant would have to wait for his ODI comeback as current ODI wicketkeeper KL Rahul was able to hold down his spot in the starting XI. Despite losing his primary contract, Shreyas Iyer will participate in his debut international match and will continue to be an effective middle-order player in ODIs.
Washington Sundar, who along with Axar Patel was chosen as the spin-bowling all-rounder, was named Player of the Series for the T20I series in Zimbabwe and later led India to a Super-Over victory in Pallekele. On a dry Colombo pitch, left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav will spearhead India’s three-man spin attack.
Additionally, Sri Lanka selected three spinners, with Akila Dananjaya chosen above Maheesh Theekshana. They will complete their spin attack with Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Rohit didn’t mind batting second since he anticipates the pitch becoming “slower and slower” as the game goes on.
Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Mohamed Shiraz
India: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed Siraj