SL vs IND: Sri Lanka Tame India after 27 Years
After 27 long years, Sri Lanka has managed to end its losing streak in ODI series against India. The last time the island nation was successful against India was back in 1997 when the former defeated India by a margin of 3-0. Sri Lanka Sets Challenging Target Sri Lanka, through its sterling performance, managed to trounce India in the third and final ODI by 110 runs to notch up their first-ever series victory over India in the 50-over format since 1997. This victory was therefore a huge one, given that it came just after they failed to qualify for the upcoming Champions Trophy. India Faces Tough Chase Thanks to Avishka Fernando’s impressive 96 runs, Sri Lanka set a 248-run target. In the first two ODIs, India had struggled to chase targets of 231 and 241; a highest target of the series against Sri Lanka on a dry, difficult pitch was always going to be tough. India started well in their chase with the smashing of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli on the other hand misfired. The other Indian batters fell quickly in the face of some good spin magic by Wellalage and lost six wickets in under 13 overs. Dunith Wellalage was the star for Sri Lanka with his left-arm spin, picking four of the first six Indian wickets. He removed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. India’s middle-order collapse saw them lose a record 24 wickets to spin in this series, any bilateral ODI series. At 92/6, India still had Shivam Dube and debutant Riyan Parag at the crease. Parag, included to beef up the middle order, was bowled by Jeffrey Vandersay. Another change in the team, Rishabh Pant replacing KL Rahul, didn’t make much of a difference. Also know more on Riyan Parag’s ODI debut for the Indian Cricket Team against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Seals the Win Wellalage cleaned up Kuldeep Yadav to claim his fifth wicket as India’s innings folded for 138 in 26.1 overs. Nine of India’s wickets fell to spin, and Wellalage became the first spinner to take a five-wicket haul against India more than once. Sri Lanka’s Strong Start Earlier, Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Fernando shared a solid 89-run opening stand. Axar Patel broke the opening stand as Nissanka was dismissed. Fernando batted well as he hit a half-century before getting out to Parag, who ended up taking three wickets. Despite losing the middle order, Kusal Mendis scored a final overs fifty to help Sri Lanka add 31 runs in the last three overs. Memorable Series Win for Sri Lanka The total proved to be more than adequate as Sri Lanka pulled off a memorable series win – its first set of back-to-back ODI victories over India since August 2010. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: Riyan Parag Shines With The Ball On ODI Debut
07th August, 2024, is surely a day Riyan Parag will remember for ages. And it’s not only for his ODI debut for the Indian Cricket Team against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo but also for the three wickets he took in the eight overs he bowled. Skipper Shows Faith Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat. India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma soon handed over the ball to Riyan Parag. And he lived up to the skipper’s expectations. Parag, the 256th player to represent India in ODI’s spun a web and trapped Avishka Fernando (96 off 102), Charith Asalanka (10 off 12) and Dunith Wellalage (2 off 3). Parag’s First ODI Wicket Avishka Fernando was thoroughly overdue a deserved hundred, on 96 from 102 balls, 9 fours and 2 sixes, but then stepped Riyan Parag and everything had to change: he dismissed Fernando when he was only 4 runs from the magic figure—breaking an important partnership in the process. Parag Traps The Opposition Captain Parag wasn’t done yet. The very next over, he trapped the Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka leg-before-wicket. After a bit of consultation with Kusal Mendis, Asalanka decided to review the decision. UltraEdge confirmed there was no bat involved, while HawkEye lights showed three reds, thus sealing Asalanka’s fate on 10 runs off 12 balls. A 3 Wicket Haul On Debut Next in to bat was Dunith Wellalage, who was in dangerous form in the previous couple of games. However, Parag was unstoppable, clean bowling Wellalage with just 2 runs off 3 balls. Riyan Parag, who usually plays as a batting all-rounder has not only delivered with the ball in the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka but also was one of the key members in the bowling unit while undoing the Sri Lankan batters in the recent T20I series. Well if Parag keeps on delivering the goods with the ball, it wouldn’t be surprising to call it a ‘Reverse Steve Smith Phenomenon.’ The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: Head to Head In ODI’s
The ODI series will see India and Sri Lanka moving to Colombo right after the series conclusion of the T20I series. In the IND vs SL ODI series, there are three matches scheduled for the series, out of which the first one is on Friday, August 2, 2024. The return of captain Rohit Sharma, who comes back into the team following Suryakumar Yadav‘s captaincy in the T20I series, will certainly boost India. Indeed, Sharma is the captain of the team in both ODIs and Tests. It will be the same case for Sri Lanka, who will retain Charith Asalanka as their skipper for the ODI series. Though he was not able to handle his team as expected in the T20I series with an end result of 3-0. Ahead of the IND vs SL 1st ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium, here are the complete head-to-head records between India and Sri Lanka in One Day Internationals. Check out more insights from the ODI leg of India’s tour of Sri Lanka here. Head-To-Head India has played 168 ODI matches against Sri Lanka. Out of these, India has won 99, while Sri Lanka has won 57 games. Besides, 11 matches ended without a result, and 1 match ended in a tie. INDIA vs SRI LANKA HEAD-TO-HEAD IN ODI’s CATEGORY INDIA SRI LANKA Matches Played 168 168 Matches Won 99 57 Matches Lost 57 99 No Result 11 11 Tied 1 1 Home Wins 40 28 Away Wins 32 12 Neutral Venue Wins 27 17 Head-to-Head: Recent 5 Encounters Of the last five ODI outings between these two teams, all have been won by India. However, the home series in July 2021 did see Sri Lanka win one ODI game out of the three. Of these five matches, three have been hosted in India and two in Sri Lanka. India will eye to add one more series win against their name while Sri Lanka will be playing for their pride after a 3-0 loss in theT20I series. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: ODI Series Kicks Off in Colombo
The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka gets underway on Friday, 2ns August, 2024 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Big Names Return for India Bolstered by the return of senior players, including captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, and Kuldeep Yadav, the Indian Cricket Team is looking to keep the winning momentum going. Unlike the T20 format, India has an extremely solid core for the 50-over game; this series will go a long way in cementing places within the team and grooming future talent. Squad Focus and Strategy With only six ODIs to be played before the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025, the upcoming series becomes very important for the new coach and captain to stamp their strategy. The third pacer to complement Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj features at the top of the list of areas to focus on. On the other hand, Mohammed Shami, an exceptional performer in the World Cup last year, will be tried alongside new talent like Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and IPL sensation Harshit Rana. The blinding six-wicket haul was by Siraj at this very venue during the Asia Cup, so he will spearhead the pace attack. Wicketkeeper Dilemma Another call pending for the Indian team is at the wicketkeeper’s position. K.L. Rahul has been effective both as a batsman and ‘keeper, but with Rishabh Pant back in the ODI set-up, the team has a strategic call to make. Pant would provide an extra left-hand option in batting, but may restrict India to five bowlers. Sri Lanka’s Injury Woes It’s an injurious start to the series for Sri Lanka, with key pacers Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana out of action. Clearly a case of improvements needed, their struggles in the T20 series were marked by middle-order collapses. A second-string pace attack makes Sri Lanka heavily dependent on their spinners to test India’s strong batting line-up. The team is keen to end a ten-match losing streak against India and provide a boost for their fans. INDIA Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Ꮪhubman Gill, Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana. SRI LANKA Charith Asalanka (Capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga. Match Details The first ODI will start at 14:30 IST and both the teams will be looking to start the series on a winning note. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Final: India Makes It 9 From 9
In a rare and commendable feat, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team has secured their spot in the ninth consecutive Women’s Asia Cup final, solidifying their dominance in the tournament’s history. The Women in Blue are the only team to have featured in all the finals of the Women’s Asia Cup since its inception in 2004. This remarkable achievement underscores the team’s consistent excellence and determination on the field. Consistent Excellence in the Asia Cup The Indian Women’s team is set to face Sri Lanka in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, continuing their legacy of reaching the summit clash in every edition of the tournament. Over the past two decades, the team’s performance in the Asia Cup has been nothing short of spectacular. Out of the nine editions played so far, India has emerged victorious on eight occasions. Their only loss came in 2018, when they were defeated by the Bangladesh Women’s team in a closely contested final. Eager Anticipation for Another Historic Victory As the Women in Blue prepare to take on Sri Lanka, they aim to add another trophy to their illustrious record, further cementing their status as the powerhouse of women’s cricket in Asia. Fans and cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the final, hoping to witness another historic moment for the Indian Women’s Cricket Team. The Indian Domination The Women’s Asia Cup has seen India dominate the tournament since its inception in 2004. India clinched the title in the first six editions, defeating Sri Lanka in the finals four times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008) and Pakistan twice (2012, 2016). In 2018, Bangladesh broke India’s winning streak by securing the title in Malaysia, with India finishing as runners-up. India regained their champion status in 2022, hosted by Bangladesh, defeating Sri Lanka in the final. As India is now all set to battle it out against Sri Lanka in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, India remains a strong contender for the title, maintaining their consistent performance in the Women’s Asia Cup over the years. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: Team India’s ODI Team Combination Blueprint
The Indian Cricket Team would be taking on Sri Lanka in a day’s time. The T20I leg of the series starts from the 27th of July, 2024 with the 1st T20I at Pallekele, Sri Lanka. The ODI’s start from the 2nd of August, 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Focussing on the ODI’s, the Indian Cricket Team is in search of balance and right combinations as the men in blue prepare for the Champions Trophy 2025 and also the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2027. However, there are a couple of questions to be answered. The Best Fit Out of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant? The ODI squad composition is under scrutiny, particularly the middle-order spots. With Rohit, Gill and Kohli cemented at the top and Hardik Pandya’s place secured when fit, the selectors face a dilemma. KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, once mainstays, now find their positions challenged by Rishabh Pant. Pant’s recovery and subsequent performance have put him back in contention, making the Sri Lanka ODIs crucial for these players to stake their claim. The selectors might have to make tough choices, balancing between batting depth and allrounder utility. What Can We Expect from India’s Fast-Bowling Cartel? Managing a heavy test match schedule on the horizon is a must. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested while Mohammed Shami is on a comeback trail from injury. Mohammed Siraj is expected to lead the bowling attack in both formats during the tour. Arshdeep Singh, having established himself in T20Is will look to impress in the 50-over format. Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana, selected for T20Is and ODIs respectively, along with Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, and Mayank Yadav, have opportunities to make a mark in the Indian bowling lineup. With the questions on the right player to man the middle order and the rising stars set to take responsibility, India’s tour of Sri Lanka surely is going to be a ‘Gambhir Maamla’ to watch out for. Also read about what’s happening with the Indian Cricket Team in T20Is here. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: Why Is ‘Maamla Gambhir’?
India’s tour of Sri Lanka is going to be a tour to watch out for this season. This is largely due to two factors: Gautam Gambhir‘s debut as the head coach and the dawn of a new era in India’s white-ball cricket post their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. The tour begins from 27th of July, 2024 with the 1st T20I at Pallekele. However, there are some major questions which need to be answered as the tour progresses. Will Suryakumar Yadav Rise to the Captaincy Challenge? Suryakumar Yadav, taking the helm as India’s T20I captain, is at the center of this new beginning. In 2015, his initial stint as captain ended controversially when he relinquished leadership of his domestic side following complaints about his on-field and dressing-room conduct. Fast forward nearly a decade, Suryakumar has evolved into a more composed and mature player, becoming one of T20 cricket’s greats. INDIA vs SRI LANKA T20Is- HEAD-TO-HEAD DATE MATCH RESULT VENUE 07th Jan, 2023 India won by 91 runs Rajkot (IND) 05th Jan, 2023 Sri Lanka won by 16 runs Pune (IND) 03rd Jan, 2023 India won by 2 runs Mumbai (IND) 06th Sep, 2022 Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets (with 1 ball remaining) Dubai (UAE) 27th Feb, 2022 India won by 6 wickets (with 19 balls remaining) Dharamshala (IND) Gambhir and the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee have expressed confidence in Suryakumar’s leadership qualities, which they observed during his vice-captaincy tenure at Kolkata Knight Riders. His recent captaincy in seven matches, filling in for the rested Rohit Sharma and injured Hardik Pandya, has shown promise. His performance in the 4-1 series win over Australia and a commendable 1-1 draw in South Africa shows his leadership capability. However, Suryakumar’s appointment might stir some undercurrents, given that he will be leading Hardik Pandya, who captains him at Mumbai Indians and was once seen as the likely future T20I captain. Who Will Emerge as India’s T20I Finisher? The retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have literally left a road to be filled at the top of the order, likely to be filled by Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Rishabh Pant at No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya anchoring the middle order. This configuration leaves a spot for a finisher, with Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube in contention. Gambhir’s preference for allrounders, demonstrated during his tenure at Lucknow Super Giants with players like Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, and Krunal Pandya, might favor Dube and Parag. However, Rinku Singh’s impressive track record could make him a strong contender. With new leadership and rising stars set to answer a lot of questions, India’s tour of Sri Lanka surely is going to be a ‘Gambhir Maamla’ to watch out for. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye