Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 1st ODI- Toss Report

Sri Lanka have won the toss against India in the first ODI and elected to bat first at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Sri Lanka and India will lock horns in the first ODI of the three-match series on Sunday. The series was originally scheduled to take place from July 13 but with multiple members of the Lankan contingent testing positive for COVID-19, the series had to be pushed further.

The senior Indian team is currently in England as they took on New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship Final and are now gearing up for a five-match Test series against the hosts which will commence from August 05. Thus, the BCCI had to send a second-string squad to Sri Lanka for the ODI and T20I series.

Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 1st ODI- Toss Report

The Lankan team, on the other hand, has had a turbulent couple of months. The Lankan players were first involved in a contractual dispute with their board followed by a humiliating loss against England away from home in the ODI and T20I series. Ahead of the series, Kusal Perera was stripped of the captaincy and Dasun Shanaka will now lead the Lankan side in limited overs.

As far as the teams are concerned, Suryakumar Yadav is most likely to make his ODI debut for the India National Cricket Team on Sunday against Sri Lanka. A lot of debate has been going around the opening pair of the Men in Blue and Prithvi Shaw is most likely to get the nod ahead of his teammates to open the innings alongside Shikhar Dhawan.

India’s Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal

Sri Lanka’s Playing XI:Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka(w), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan.

Team India Head In The Series As Strong Favourites

Even though the senior Indian team is in England, the second-string Indian squad looks more than capable enough of beating the Lankans in their own backyard. Sri Lanka’s recent loss against the England Cricket Team is also one of the prime reasons behind Sri Lanka’s chances as an underdog.

Also, Dasun Shanaka’s captaincy record hasn’t been proven yet and this also makes the visitors one of the staunch favorites to win the first ODI and the series.