Sri Lanka bamboozled themselves more than anyone in the first ODI. But in all the ecstasy that the victory tie brought, there was an emptiness for the hosts. The hollow but sinking feeling that they struck the gold a little too late. By the time, a true Test of their ODI skills arrives (i.e. a multi-national tournament), this combination might not be relevant anymore. Although the 21-year-old rookie, Dunith Wellalage seems like an antidote to this feeling, the question about the relevancy of whatever the Islanders do in anticipation of the ODI World Cup 2027, will linger for quite some time.
India had it all in their grasp until the very last ball. But it all ended up morphing into the sort of match where you can’t find where you faltered. It’s frustrating, really. You scratch your head, gawk at the replays again and again, and still fail to see what was the turning point. That does not mean India were singing at a perfect pitch, but it was not so bad to so mercilessly drop the game you carried in your arms for the duration of the match. It was spin all along. Everyone knows when the Sri Lankan spin gets going, the going gets to do wonders.
Team Overview:
Pathum Nissanka playing gracefully up top was no surprise. It was a classical ODI innings. However, the upper middle order still has a few gears to grind. Wellalage, realistically, will not always be coming to save the day with the bat. Add to that the ominous news that Wanindu Hasaranga has become the recent victim of the injury outbreak in the camp. Without the batters up the order stepping up, the team can relapse back to the old, destructive habits.
While India least expected Sri Lanka to put up a fight as strong, it’s a blessing in disguise for Rohit Sharma’s men. The team does not have many ODIs to experiment things before the Champions Trophy starts. Given that India will be going with almost half their men recruited from the younger lot, there can’t be any better friend for them at this point than fierce competition.
Head-to-head Matches:
India and Sri Lanka have faced each other several times in this format. The head-to-head record shows that India has always had an upper hand on their southern neighbors. Of the 169 ODI matches, both teams have contested against each other, India has won 99 matches while Sri Lanka came out as victors in 58 matches. 12 games, including the last ODI, ended in a stalemate.
Weather and Pitch report:
The pitch, to no one’s astonishment, will offer immense help to the spinners. And it’s a big worry, if your team’s main spinner has been ousted with injury. The toss-winning captain should opt to bat first because only the initial few overs will help the batters to score with a little freedom before the deck starts turning the ball miles.
The weather, again, is expected to remain ominous with clouds still lingering in the Colombo sky. However, a washout is unexpected, even in the worst possible scenario.
Prediction:
The push in the last game might have shaken India awake, which, of course, does not bring glad tidings for Sri Lanka. While Sri Lanka’s spinners will make it difficult, India is more likely to eventually sneak the game in their pocket.
Where to Watch:
You can watch the game on the following platforms as per your location:
Sri Lanka: Sony Sports Network, Sony Liv App (Live Streaming)
India: Sony Sports Network. For Live Streaming: Sony Liv App, Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD and Sony Sports Network, Sony Liv App
United Kingdom: TNT Sports 2
Pakistan: Tapmad
