Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 3rd ODI- India's Predicted XI

After winning two back-to-back matches in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, India will take on the home team in the third and final ODI of the series. Sri Lanka vs India third ODI will take place on Friday (July 23) at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Indian team is led by Shikhar Dhawan while Dasun Shanaka is the skipper of Sri Lanka in the series.

In both games, Sri Lanka batted first and set up a target for India. The home side was completely outplayed in the first match after India chased down the 263-run target with 7 wickets in hand.

In the 2nd ODI, India had a tough run while chasing 276 runs, however, Indian tailenders like Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar did a good job in the end to bag victory for India by 3 wickets. Here we take a look at India’s predicted XI in the Sri Lanka vs India 3rd ODI match.

Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 3rd ODI- India’s Predicted XI

Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw played as an opener in the 1st two games and he is highly expected to be retained as an opener in the 3rd ODI as well. The right-handed batsman could not score a big knock in the 2nd ODI getting out for 13 runs, however, he played a brilliant knock in the 1st game. The 21-year-old smashed a quickfire knock of 43 off 24 in the first ODI, giving a great start to the Indian team while chasing.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan is the skipper of the team and he will definitely lead the team in the 3rd ODI as well. The left-handed batsman smacked unbeaten 86 runs in Sri Lanka vs India 1st ODI, setting the backbone for India’s victory while chasing a 264-run target. He could only score 29 runs in the 2nd ODI, losing his wicket with an lbw to Hasaranga. However, the Indian skipper is in great batting form and unarguably the strongest batsman in the team at present.

Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan, who made his ODI debut in the Sri Lanka vs India 1st ODI, played a fabulous knock of 59 runs off 42 balls in the 3rd ODI. He could not score big in the 2nd ODI, however, he has impressed everyone with his innings in the first game. Moreover, he has also done a decent job behind the wickets. India will probably retain him as the wicketkeeper in the 3rd ODI as well.

Manish Pandey

Although Manish Pandey could not hit a big knock in both the ODIs, he didn’t lose his wicket cheaply either in both the matches. He scored 26 runs off 40 balls in the first game and 37 runs off 31 balls in the 2nd ODI. Hence, he has been in good batting form so far and the team is likely to retain him in the playing XI in the 3rd ODI as well.

Suryakumar Yadav

When the top three Indian batsmen failed to give a good start to the team in Sri Lanka vs India 2nd ODI, Suryakumar Yadav played a crucial 53 runs to keep the Indian innings alive. In the middle-order, he did a fine job and executed his responsibility well. Yadav is another player who will be in the playing XI in Sri Lanka vs India third ODI.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya got an opportunity to bat in the 2nd ODI but lost his wicket for a duck. As an all-rounder, Pandya has executed a helping hand to the team in the bowling department. The right-arm pacer picked 1 wicket while conceding 34 runs in the first ODI. In the 2nd ODI, he remained wicketless but bowled at a great economy, giving away only 20 runs in 4 overs.

Krunal Pandya

If we take a look at Krunal Pandya’s all-round performance in Sri Lanka vs India ODI series so far, he has really done a decent job. In bowling, the left-arm spinner has picked only 1 wicket in two games but has maintained a low economy. In the first ODI, he only gave away 26 runs in 10 overs. In the 2nd ODI, he conceded 37 runs in his 8-over spell. In the 2nd ODI, he also smashed a crucial 35-run knock for the team.

Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar gave a heroic performance in Sri Lanka vs India 2nd ODI. The right-arm pacer picked 2 wickets in the 1st innings. Later, when winning hopes for India almost ended with 193-7 on the scoreboard, Chahar executed his batting skills smacking unbeaten 69 runs to bag the winning runs for India. After such a spectacular show, there is no reason that the Indian team will bench Chahar in the 3rd ODI.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has picked 3 wickets in the two ODIs. In the 1st match, he remained wicketless in his 9 overs. However, in the 2nd ODI, the right-arm pacer made a great comeback by picking 3 wickets. He also bowled at a great economy of 5.40 in the match as well. Kumar is the vice-captain and also the most experienced pacer in the squad. Hence, he is definitely going to be part of the team in the 3rd ODI.

Yuzvendra Chahal

So far, Yuzvendra Chahal is the most successful bowler in Sri Lanka vs India ODI series. In two matches, Chahal has picked 5 wickets, most than any other bowler from both teams. The leg spinner picked 2 wickets for 52 runs in the 1st ODI. In the 2nd ODI, the right-arm spinner executed an even better show, picking 3 wickets for 50 runs in his 10 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav remained wicketless in the 2nd ODI but he picked two wickets in the first game. Dismissing Sri Lanka’s two top-order batsmen Minod Bhanuka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the same over, Yadav crushed Sri Lanka‘s batting in the 1st match. Although he could not bag wickets in Sri Lanka vs India 2nd ODI, Yadav has proved that he is a worthy spinner after his bowling show in the 1st match.